Casablanca – The avocado fruit in Morocco is witnessing a notable expansion in both production and exports, contributing positively to the country’s commercial activity and foreign exchange earnings. Projections for the 2023/24 season indicate the potential for record-breaking export performance, with approximately 40,000 tons of avocados valued at $120 million exported between July 2023 and January 2024. Despite the typical slowdown in exports during June, and a potential decline in figures from February to May 2024, the total exports for the season are anticipated to be unprecedented.
Preliminary data from the Moroccan Avocado Association supports these projections, suggesting a total export volume exceeding 60,000 tons for the entire season, marking a 20% increase compared to the previous year. Favorable weather conditions and expanded cultivation areas have significantly contributed to this growth. However, persistent challenges such as droughts, water shortages, and changes in government subsidies for irrigation could potentially impact future export performance.
Currently, the Moroccan avocado export market heavily relies on a few key destinations, primarily within the European Union, including Spain, France, the Netherlands, and Germany. Despite efforts to diversify export markets, progress has been slow. Seasonal fluctuations result in exports to countries outside the top five importers ranging from 700 to 1,900 tons. Nonetheless, there have been notable developments, such as the introduction of Moroccan Hass avocados to new markets like Georgia, where they were first shipped in March through direct channels.
Abdullah El Yemlahi, President of the Moroccan Avocado Association, disclosed a significant achievement for Morocco in avocado exports. On last January 7th, 30,000 tons of avocados were exported for the 2023-2024 agricultural season. Speaking to “Fresh Plaza,” El Yemlahi highlighted a peak in demand during the second week of January, with Moroccan avocado exports expected to range between 42 and 45 thousand tons during this period, reaching almost 70% of the targeted goal of 60,000 tons.
El Yemlahi acknowledged that achieving this record number was not without challenges. The main region for avocado production in the Kingdom, Larache, was negatively impacted by Storm Bernard, resulting in the loss of 6,000 tons of fruit. Other obstacles, such as issues with improper sizes, also affected Moroccan avocado exports.
