The end of Ramadan coincides this year with the end of the Medjool season in Egypt, and producers are pleased with a "very successful year," Ramadan Elsayyad, export manager of Palm Hills, reports.
Ramadan said, "This year we have witnessed a very high demand for Egyptian Medjool dates. This reflects international hype for Medjool dates and a good positioning of Egypt in the international market. We hope that this trend will continue in the coming seasons, marking the beginning of the prosperity of Egyptian Medjool in the world."
"Numbers don't lie," adds Ramadan. "I am pleased to announce that we have exceeded our sales targets for this season. We have exported 90% of our total production, in line with our mission to conquer global markets. This season's production was particularly impressive, with a total of 1,200 tons sold, which represents a remarkable 130% growth rate over the previous season. Our efforts to maintain the highest quality and production standards were well received by our customers, resulting in increased demand and unprecedented export success. We are proud of our achievements and look forward to continuing to provide our customers with superior products in the future."
According to Ramadan, when the hype for Medjool meets a good quality supply, success is guaranteed. Understanding the needs of customers and end consumers, including in terms of packaging, is essential according to Ramadan. "Medjool dates, given their position in the premium date market, must be of good quality. The true measure of quality can be determined by the satisfaction of our customers and the absence of any complaints. At Palm Hills, we are proud to say that we have never received any complaints from our customers regarding packaging or product quality."
"This is a testament to the excellence and diligence of our highly trained employees who consistently produce top-notch results," adds Ramadan, "Our reputation as a supplier of superior products is based on our commitment to achieving the highest standards in all aspects of our business. We take our customers' satisfaction seriously and strive to provide the best possible products every time." One of these aspects is providing Medjool dates in smaller packaging, making it more convenient to buy, store and consume, especially in supermarkets. Previously, Medjool dates were sold to the final consumer mostly in ethnic markets, in large boxes of 1 to 5 kg.
According to the producer, the season was marked by tough competition in the Western European markets, a retributive market where Medjool producers around the world want to sell their volumes. "We were able to protect our shares in this market thanks to our stable prices, which remained at the same level as last year. The competition did not go as far as cutting prices, which is good."
The season was also marked by difficulties in supplying the Russian market: "Our biggest challenge has been the war in Eastern Europe, which has affected the supply chain to the Russian market. This is particularly concerning as it is a very large market for us, along with Turkey."
The next season begins in September 2023, and it looks exceptionally favorable, according to Ramadan. "We will increase our production to 2000 tons. We hope it will be even better than previous seasons, with the grace of Allah."
