The world production is tending upwards owing to the expansion of new plantations, particularly in North Africa and the Middle East, thanks to the intervention of private investors and the support of regional authorities. The increased supply and international competition might cause price reductions affecting all the stakeholders in the sector.
The high temperatures during the 2021 summer in most producing countries favored the incidence of pests. The excessive heat can also affect the texture of the fruit, so a relatively high rate of dry dates during harvesting could be expected.