Between 2016 and 2021, Morocco’s fruit exports more than doubled from $729 million to over $1.5 billion, accounting for more than a third of its total agricultural exports in 2021. According to the USDA, the increase in fruit exports from Morocco is due, among other things, to recent investments in port and transport infrastructure, the latest of which is the future construction of a new deep-water port in Dakhla, which should be operational by 2027 and which will not fail to perpetuate this trend.
The European Union (EU) remained the leading market in 2021 for fruit exports, accounting for 70% of exports by value, with neighboring countries Spain and France being the main destinations. Morocco is the only country in Africa with which the United States has a free trade agreement, the USDA said.
Blueberries: 300 million dollars of exports during 2016-2021
Global production of blueberries, raspberries and strawberries has grown tremendously over the past decade, driven by global consumer demand and enabled by quality improvement technologies in genetics, harvesting and packaging. This is indeed the case for Morocco. Its blueberry exports have seen continuous growth between 2016 and 2021. They have quadrupled to more than 40,000 tons, an increase in value from $71 million to $300 million.
As a result, Morocco’s share in the world trade of this fruit has increased from around 3 to 6.5% to become one of the top 10 exporters in the world. The EU is by far the largest market, accounting for over 80% in value and volume, a market valued at $243 million in 2021.
“Morocco has thus become a key supplier to the EU with a 23% market share (27,000 tonnes), overtaking Chile in 2021 to become the second largest supplier to the EU behind Peru. Although the majority of exports are destined for the EU, the destinations are diversified. Combined shipments to all other countries only account for 15% of exports, but they extend to the UK, their second largest market, and worldwide to at least 30 other countries. in said report.
Mandarins: doubling of production in 2021-2022
The USDA also reports that over the past ten years, mandarin production in Morocco has doubled to reach 1.4 million tonnes in 2021/2022 with production concentrated in the regions of Souss-Massa, Gharb and Oriental. Harvested area has increased by almost 50%, but has been relatively stable over the past five years, with harvested area in 2021 of 58,900 hectares (ha).
Of the total mandarins produced, more than 40% were exported. Also according to the USDA, mandarins have accounted for 6% of Morocco’s fruit export growth since 2016. The mandarin industry has grown in direct response to domestic and foreign demand from the EU and the Russia.
The quantities exported peaked in 2018 at 553,000 tonnes but fell to 465,000 tonnes in 2019 and 497,000 tonnes in 2021 due to a drop in production due to unfavorably high temperatures during flowering and fruit set, explains the same source, noting that the main destination for mandarin orange exports over the past six years by value remains the EU, which accounts for 34%.
Watermelon: Morocco is the 1st supplier of the EU
The USDA also notes that watermelon production in Morocco jumped 17% compared to 2011, to reach 677,000 tons in 2020, and continued to grow in 2021. Production is concentrated in the South (Zagora, Ouarzazate and Errachidia), Gharb, Doukkala-Abda, Souss-Massa and the Oriental.
Watermelons have accounted for 17% of Morocco’s fruit export growth since 2016. The Moroccan watermelon industry has grown in direct response to foreign demand from the EU and UK, with exports concentrated between March and October. The EU is the leading market, accounting for more than 95% of exports, with the UK coming a long way behind.
Exports increased from $35 million (79,610 tons) in 2016 to $170 million (257,737 tons) in 2021, up more than 15% from the previous year. Morocco held a record market share of 57% by value in the EU in 2021, up from just 2% in 2012. Morocco’s geographical proximity to the EU gives it a competitive advantage over other exporters to the EU. EU, such as Brazil and Costa Rica.
Avocados: production continues to grow
Although it represents less than 1% of world production in 2020 (8.2 million tonnes), avocado production in Morocco more than doubled between 2011 and 2022 to reach 70,000 tonnes. Due to optimal temperatures, production is currently concentrated along the northern coast between Larache and Rabat.
Avocados have accounted for 9% of Morocco’s fruit export growth since 2016, the same source said, indicating that shipments almost sixfold between 2016 and 2020 to reach 36,000 tons, valued at $108 million. Nevertheless, in 2021, exports fell to 27,000 tons but remained well above the 5-year average.
Oranges: production record in 2021-2022
For oranges, the USDA notes that production in Morocco of this fruit is estimated at a record 1.2 million tons in 2021-2022, up 11% from the previous year and a third over the past 10 years.
Production is concentrated in the regions of Gharb and Souss-Massa. However, according to the USDA, oranges have only accounted for 1% of the growth in Moroccan fruit exports since 2016 with deliveries taking place between December and August. Finally, it is pointed out that the orange industry has developed in direct response to domestic and foreign demand from Canada, the EU and Russia.