Middle East & Africa Dried Fruits Market Outlook, 2028

Dried fruit has a history of use in Mesopotamian cuisine since 4000 BC. The Mesopotamian region comprises parts of Iraq, Kuwait, Syria, and Turkey, many of whom are still today's top dried fruit producers and exporters. Turkey exports the largest quantity of raisins while Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates export the greatest number of dates worldwide. Combined with accurate and regular laboratory testing, food safety certification helps to build a positive reputation for suppliers of dried food. With sustainable production methods and the implementation of corporate social responsibility measures, emerging suppliers can reap additional benefits. South Africa, Burkina Faso, and Ghana are the top dried mango suppliers, while Ecuador is the main banana chip supplier. Thailand is the top supplier of dried tropical sweetened fruit.

According to the research report, “Middle East & Africa Dried Fruit Market Outlook, 2028” published by Bonafide Research, the market is anticipated to add USD 854.20 Million market size from 2022 to 2028. The UAE has become a hub for food and beverage production in the Middle East. Investments in advanced production technology, packaging, and distribution capabilities reflect the growth in the food processing market. Efforts are on to reduce import dependency. This augurs well for the future of the food processing industry. But hygiene standards will need a drastic improvement to meet global standards. India’s food trade with UAE is growing. Middle East countries are a great opportunity for Indian fruit and vegetable processors. Semi-processed fruit pulps are exported to countries in the Gulf region for conversion to ready-to-drink beverages.

For all businesses that aspire to be market participants in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, innovation and product differentiation will drive success. Innovations can be explored in the form of new flavors, ingredients, and better tastes. Interestingly, food consumption habits differ across weekdays and weekends. On the other hand, functional foods are fortified with ingredients to enhance their nutritional value. Companies are also doing research to introduce multifunctional foods in the market. Plant-based functional extracts like green tea and antioxidants are being considered for inclusion in processed foods.

Rising awareness about health issues, product differentiation, and convenience will drive the dried food market in the Middle East. Cereals are being consumed more followed by value-added dairy products, fruits, vegetables, and meat-based products. Alternatives like organic foods, whole wheat, and gluten-free products are increasing manufacturers’ margins. The government’s efforts to create awareness about the need for a balanced diet are stoking trends in the right direction. Technologies like the Internet of Things in agriculture for food processing and traceability are future developments. The millennial population in the Middle East active on social media is also looking at the consumption of premium products.

For instance, Pasha International Nut Company is a leading exporter of dried fruit and nuts. Established in 2002, Pasha has expanded to export beyond the Middle East to Africa, Asia, South America, and Europe. Their initial main exports were dates and figs, but the portfolio has grown to include raisins, pistachios, walnuts, pecans, almonds, macadamias, and dried fruit. Further, Chile is hosting a series of events to secure its position in the UAE as the leading exporter of walnuts and dried fruits with a trio of virtual and live business networking opportunities. Prominent UAE importers have been selected for the exclusive sessions which will include a series of presentations outlining the superior quality and health benefits of Chilean produce, group discussions, as well as the opportunity to participate in virtual and live business meetings. The first event, the 24th e-business meeting of the Chamber of Commerce of Valparaiso, took place from the 27th – the 30th of October. The event saw over 176 Chilean exporters of fresh fruit, nuts, vegetables, and healthy foods undertake a series of 30-minute meetings with importers from the UAE and the rest of the world. ExpoNut 2020, which took place on November 25th, was the second virtual event to take place. It was the largest meeting point for the Chilean nut industry, annually bringing together more than 500 producers, exporters, suppliers, and investors.

Traditional dried fruit such as raisins, figs, dates, apricots, and apples have been a staple of Mediterranean diets for millennia. Some of the major players operating in the Middle East Dates fruit market are Al Foah, Al Barakh Dates Factory, Hadiklaim Dates Grower Cooperative, Maghadi Dates, Haifa Dates, Kingdom Dates, Sharjah Dates, Sahara Dates, Emirates Dates, and Al Mohamadia Dates Company. With an objective to enhance their product portfolio, these players have adopted various strategies to increase the production of date fruit in their farms and factories to cater to the increasing customer demand for date fruit in a different form.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic had been greatly felt in the food and beverages sector, influencing all its associated industries. The shutdown of manufacturing units, disruption in the supply chain, restricted distribution networks, and other aspects have resulted in the decline of the sales of dried fruits in the local and international marketplace. However, in the coming day, the need to improve immunity and disease resistance is foreseen to fuel the demand for dried fruits among consumers. The market for dried foods in the Middle East and Africa has been classified into South Africa, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Israel, and the Rest of the Middle East and Africa. It is one of the key emerging regions, which will generate significant opportunities in the overall Dried Fruits Market during the calculated period due to the increasing demand for foods rich in vitamins and minerals.

Major Companies present in the market:
Archer Daniels Midland Company, Red River Foods, Sun-Maid Growers Of California, AGRANA Beteiligungs-AG, Messina Verpakkings, Döhler, SUNBEAM FOODS, Ocean Spray Cranberries inc., Olam International, Lion Raisins Inc (US), Pasha International

Considered in this report
• Geography: Middle East & Africa
• Historic year: 2017
• Base year: 2022
• Estimated year: 2023
• Forecast year: 2028

Aspects covered in this report
• Middle East & Africa Dried Fruits market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Country-wise dried fruits market analysis
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

Countries covered in the report
• UAE
• Saudi Arabia
• South Africa

By Type
• Dried Apricots
• Dried Dates
• Dried Grapes / Raisins
• Dried Figs
• Dried Berries (Cranberries, Cherries, Blueberries, Blackcurrant, Strawberries, Blackberry)
• Prunes
• Others (Apples, Mangoes, Oranges, Pineapples)

By Nature
• Organic Dried Fruits
• Conventional Dried Fruits

By Distribution Channel
• Hypermarkets/Supermarkets
• Specialty Stores
• Convenience Stores
• Online Retail
• Others

The approach of the report:
This report consists of a combined approach of primary as well as secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and list out the companies that are present in the market. The secondary research consists of third-party sources such as press releases, annual reports of companies, and analyzing government-generated reports and databases. After gathering the data from secondary sources primary research was conducted by making telephonic interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducting trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this we have started doing primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting consumers into regional aspects, tier aspects, age groups, and gender. Once we have primary data with us we started verifying the details obtained from secondary sources.

Intended audience:
This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to the dried fruit industry, government bodies, and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.

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Manmayi Raval

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