Ordering dates for Ramadan: when to book

Why Ramadan needs early planning

Dates are at the heart of Ramadan. Many families break their fast with a date, so demand rises sharply in the weeks before the holy month. For importers, it is often the busiest season of the year, and the one with the least room for delay.

The good news is that the calendar is predictable. Once you know when Ramadan starts and how long each step takes, you can work out exactly when to order.

This guide walks you through the timing, from the harvest in the Ziban to the day your dates reach the shelf.

Harvest time in the Ziban

In the Ziban oases around Biskra, dates are harvested from October to December. That is when Deglet Nour and the other varieties from the new crop become available.

Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin around February 2027; the exact day depends on the sighting of the moon. The new crop will be ready, but the window between harvest and Ramadan is short. Ordering early gives you more room to choose your variety and packaging.

How long each step takes

Samples: 5 to 7 days by courier, plus time to taste them and decide. Booking: in peak season, book 2 to 3 weeks ahead so your order gets a place in the packing schedule.

Packing: 7 to 14 days after payment, at our packing station in Biskra. Sea transit: this varies a lot by destination port. Ports close to Algeria are reached faster than distant ports in Asia, so ask your freight forwarder or shipping line for the current transit time.

Keep in mind that these steps fall in the busiest weeks of the season, when many buyers order at the same time. The earlier you start, the more easily each step falls into place.

Plan backwards from your shelf date

Start with the day your dates must be on the shelf, not the day you place the order. Then count backwards: your own distribution, customs clearance at your port, sea transit, loading at Algiers or Skikda, packing, payment and samples.

Add a safety margin at each step. Ships can be delayed, paperwork can take longer, and in the run-up to Ramadan everyone in the chain is busy. A few spare weeks cost little; an empty shelf in the first week of Ramadan costs far more.

If you sell through several channels, such as wholesale and retail, set a shelf date for each. Wholesale customers usually need stock earlier than shops, so their date sets the pace.

A simple timeline for Ramadan 2027

Rather than a fixed calendar, keep the order of steps in mind: ask for samples in October or early November, as the new crop comes in; confirm your order and pay soon after; allow 7 to 14 days for packing; then add your sea transit time and customs clearance.

In practice, this usually means ordering in the autumn, during or just after the harvest, rather than waiting for the new year. For distant destinations, aim for the early end of that window.

If you have never shipped dates to your port before, ask your customs broker early which documents and checks apply, so there are no surprises on arrival.

Before you place your order

Have these details ready: the variety and packaging you want, the quantity, your destination port, the Incoterm (for example FOB or CIF) and your target shelf date. With these, Algeria Global Dattes can tell you whether the timeline works and suggest the best moment to confirm.

Ramadan comes round a little earlier each year. Plan carefully once, keep your notes for next season, and each Ramadan order will be easier than the last.