(Ecofin agency) – Morocco is the third producer and exporter of oranges in Africa, behind Egypt and South Africa. However, unlike these two heavyweights in the sector who are respectively 1st and 2nd world exporters, the Cherifian kingdom is struggling to impose itself permanently on the international market.
In Morocco, the Government has ratified the entry into force of a new mechanism for exporting citrus fruits, applicable on 5 agricultural campaigns from 2024 to 2028. According to the details published in the Official Bulletin of the Kingdom on April 21, the granting of a flat -rate premium of 1,000 dirhams ($ 107.7) is planned by the EU, the EU, United Kingdom and some African countries.
According to the authorities, aid will be allocated exclusively to exporting packaging units with valid approval and subject to an annual ceiling set at 65,000 tonnes for the first year, with a progressive increase up to 125,000 tonnes in 2028.
This maneuver is to be included in a context where the orange sector has been in difficulty in international markets for several years. The data compiled by the American Department of Agriculture (USDA) reveal that Moroccan exports of Oranges fell from 15.37 % on average per year, going from 117,000 tonnes during the 2019/2020 marketing campaign to only 60,000 tonnes in 2023/2024.
Over the period considered, the country of North Africa thus increased from the 7ᵉ rank of the world’s exporters of fruit to 10ᵉ place, for the benefit of China and Chile, which rose in the ranking, behind Egypt, South Africa, the United States, the European Union (EU), Turkey and Australia.
“The main idea is above all to try to encourage the export of oranges which are undermined by the competitiveness of Egypt. […] This is the first expected benefit of the new system »said Kacem Bennani Smires, President of the Moroccan Interprofessional Federation of Citrus (Morocco Citrus), in Media 24on April 30.
Support that might not be sufficient
-If this new public mechanism is praised in the sector, the actors agree in particular on the fact that it is not a panacea for the evils of the Moroccan agrumicole industry. “This is good news, but it doesn’t solve everything. Due to the devaluation of their currencies, Egypt and Turkey remain significantly more competitive than us, including with the support we will benefit from “, explains Mr. Bennani Smires.
According to observers, in addition to competition on the international market, the Moroccan sector must also deal with persistent drought, which affects its productivity and the increase in transport costs. Already, in 2023, Moroccan citrus exports had decreased by almost 70 %, standing at only 39,000 tonnes, according to the USDA, under the combined effect of these three factors, and having been pending the 100,000 tonnes mark again.
Ultimately, this support policy could foreshadow a more ambitious strategy for repositioning Morocco on the global citrus market. But to achieve this, it will have to be accompanied by structural reforms aimed at strengthening the resilience of production against drought, improving logistical performance and diversifying outlets.
Stéphanas combines
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