Dates in demand: A staple fruit with year-round appeal
As Southeast Asia’s food and beverage sector continues to diversify and expand, Food & Drinks Malaysia by SIAL, held from 1-3 July this year at MITEC, Kuala Lumpur, is emerging as a key sourcing hub for high-value, culturally significant products.
One product that’s stealing the spotlight for a number of reasons, with deep roots in tradition—and strong year-round commercial potential—is the date.
While Ramadan 2025 has concluded, demand for dates remains strong as buyers already look ahead to the 2026 season. In the meantime, dates are gaining traction beyond their religious significance, as a healthy, natural sweetener and snack in mainstream retail, foodservice, and wellness categories. This shift positions dates as a versatile, value-added product that speaks to both tradition and innovation.
Dates and Ramadan: A fruit with cultural significance
Traditionally consumed to break the fast during Ramadan, dates hold deep religious and cultural importance for Muslim communities. Their high natural sugar content makes them ideal for quickly restoring energy after a day of fasting, while their fibre, potassium, and antioxidants support digestion and hydration.
Though the religious season drives a significant spike in procurement, the sourcing period for Ramadan typically begins well in advance—making mid-year trade shows like Food & Drinks Malaysia by SIAL critical to 2026 planning cycles.
Key exhibitors to watch
Food & Drinks Malaysia 2025 (FDM) will feature a curated selection of top international date producers. Nour Fruit (Tunisia) for example specialises in high-quality Moon Dates, cultivating premium Deglet Nour dates in southern Tunisian oases. According to the brand, Mood Dates selects only top-grade Deglet Nour fruit and applies rigorous ISO-aligned quality control throughout production. Rooted in natural wellness and sustainability, the brand champions health, environmental stewardship, and genuine connection to its origins.
Palmera Dates Agriculture and Trading LLC (Jordan) are known for premium Medjool and Deglet Noor dates, serving global halal and specialty markets. Established in 2019, the brand plans to expand its global presence beyond the current markets in Europe, Middle East and west Asia as well as increasing retail presence across the globe. Its approach starts with close planning, group sourcing and operations management in collaboration with contract farmers through robust agricultural programs, method statements and peer reviews to ensure highest quality of harvest crowned with fair pricing mechanism to farmers.
Dates Valley (Malaysia) slogan “Designed by Science, Powered by Nature” emphasises the natural health benefits of this super fruit. This rising Malaysian brand is bringing locally sourced dates to the forefront of ASEAN’s natural foods scene and its products will be on display for visitors at the show in July.
These are just a few examples, but they reflect not only the heritage of date cultivation but also the sector’s modern shift toward organic certification, sustainable farming, and new product development.
A fruit for modern consumers
Beyond religious contexts, dates are now recognised globally as a functional food—suitable for plant-based, vegan, and gluten-free diets. They are used in snack bars, natural syrups, baking ingredients, and energy products, making them a favourite among health-conscious and younger consumers seeking clean-label alternatives.
For importers, distributors, and food manufacturers, dates represent a dual opportunity: anchoring seasonal offerings for Ramadan while supporting long-term health and wellness trends across international markets.
Food & Drinks Malaysia by SIAL, part of the globally recognised SIAL Network, offers direct access to ASEAN’s dynamic food industry—and the perfect timing to initiate sourcing discussions ahead of 2026’s high season.
Top image credit: Alireza Dashtestani for Unsplash
