The 2023-2024 citrus season in Morocco has fallen sharply. According to a new report from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), trade figures have been adjusted downward for fresh mandarins and oranges in the 2023-2024 season (running from October 2023 to March 2024) in Morocco. Indeed, exports of mandarins have been revised downwards to 400,000 tonnes, a drop of almost 16% compared to the previous season, while domestic consumption is estimated at 550,000 tonnes. The area planted for this citrus fruit was 59,100 hectares while that cultivated is around 50,050 hectares.
Production en berne
Oranges are not doing any better, as overall production has fallen to 40,000 tonnes. Between October 2023 and March 2024, orange exports to Europe, Morocco’s main customer, fell by 42% to 1.8 million tonnes, compared to the same period a year earlier.
Thus, overall exports for this season fell by 18% compared to the same period a year earlier. The data also indicates that the planted area is 58,200 hectares. That harvested is 54,900 hectares. The decline was also observed at the level of processed products. USDA figures indicate that exports of orange juice fell by 40%, while imports increased by 7% over the same period.
For fresh lemons, exports recorded a 55% decline. And as production was revised downwards, Moroccan exporters chose to prioritize the local market.
Heat is to blame
This decline is mainly due to the succession of two seasons marked by high temperatures. Thus, the extreme heat of the summer of 2023 had a negative impact on flowering and the lack of rain had serious consequences. Industrial sources indicated that geopolitical events, including the wars in Ukraine and Israel, have given rise to three major challenges for Moroccan exports, namely the inflation of inputs and logistics costs, the closure of the Suez Canal and the blocking of access to the Middle East. Added to this is increased competition from Spain, Chile and Turkey.
Chile produces a large volume of clementines and, with the new late varieties, has extended its export season, increasing competitive pressure on Moroccan citrus in the North American market. Regarding orange shipments, Moroccan exporters face significant competition from Egypt. During this season, due to the low production, prices have been high in the local market, leading exporters to prefer to sell more on the domestic market.
Maryem Ouazzani / ECO Inspirations
