أثر القدرة التنافسية على الصادرات السعودية للتمور في الأسواق الدولية

Abstract EN

This paper was set to measure export competitiveness and its effects on Saudi Dates Exports to international markets during the period 1990-2011.

In doing so, this study used the Revealed Comparative Advantage Indicator (RCA) and Relative Export Advantage (RXA).

Results showed that during the period 1990-2011 the UAE is the major export market for Saudi dates where its share from those exports was 61.2%.

Next was the United Kingdom importing 12.8%, Syria 3.8%, Jordan 1.5%, Kuwait 1.4%, Sri Lanka 1.1%, and Qatar 1.1%.

The estimated Revealed Comparative Advantage Indicator (RCA) for Saudi dates exports was estimated to be 49.27 compared to 55.25 for the Relative Export Advantage (RXA), which means that Saudi Arabia enjoyed a revealed comparative advantage as well as relative export advantage in dates exports during this period.

It was also shown that a 10% increase (decrease) in the relative export advantage (RXA) for Saudi dates exports will result in a 10.37% increase (decrease) in Saudi dates exports.

This paper recommends increasing the Saudi relative export advantage (RXA) for dates exports to international markets by adopting new technologies in processing and packaging of dates, along with paying more care and attention to the already major dates’ export markets.

This requires strengthening Saudi trade missions to these countries and providing Saudi dates exporters with up-to-date market data from these countries regarding consumers’ dates preferences, tastes, prices and market’s dates players.