Unlocking Pakistan's Dates Palm Fruit Export Potential: A Gravity Model Comparison Between Asian and Non-Asian Markets

The current study unveils Pakistan’s dates palm fruit sector and explores new export avenues beyond India. Using panel data of 17 trading partners of Pakistan, spanning 1998 to 2021, to uncover key drivers of Pakistan's dates palm fruit exports, the current study applied the Gravity model. Findings underscore the pivotal roles of Pakistan's GDP, partner country GDP and population, distance, and exchange rates in shaping export dynamics. Interestingly, the study highlights untapped opportunities in global markets, showing more substantial export potential for dates palm fruit in Non-Asian regions compared to Asia and neighboring countries. Promising destinations include Germany, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, and the USA, suggesting a pathway for significant market expansion.