Morocco to set new record in avocado export in 2023/24 Season

Avocado production and export in Morocco continues its upward trend, generating important foreign exchange earnings, said the international EastFruit online magazine.

Between July 2023 and January 2024, the North African Kingdom exported nearly 40,000 tons of avocados, worth $120 million, setting a new record for the period.

With four more months to go and the figures for February to May 2024 dip to the lowest levels seen in recent years, the total export for the 2023/24 season is expected to be unprecedented, according to EastFruit projections based on data provided by Moroccan Avocado Association. Exports could top 60,000 tons for the entire season.

A 20% increase in the country’s avocado harvest in 2023, compared to the previous year, has been a significant contributor to this growth, thanks to favorable weather and expanded cultivation areas.

Moroccan exporters primarily target four EU nations – Spain, France, the Netherlands, and Germany – with the first three significantly re-exporting Moroccan avocados. The fifth-largest importer, the United Kingdom, lies outside the EU.

While diversification of the Moroccan export market is underway, it is progressing slowly. Seasonal fluctuations see avocado exports to countries outside the top five importers ranging from 700 to 1,900 tons.