Morocco overtakes South Africa as Africa’s second-largest avocado exporter

MOROCCO – Morocco has overtaken South Africa to become Africa’s second-largest avocado exporter, shipping a record 100,000 tons in the 2024/2025 season.

This performance, captured in a recent report by Dutch banking group Rabobank, signals a significant shift in the continent’s avocado market.

The Cherifian Kingdom’s exports rose by 67 percent compared to the previous season, outpacing South Africa, which shipped just under 80,000 tons despite a modest 9 percent growth. Morocco’s leap ahead came faster than expected.

In 2023, Fruitrop, a publication by France’s CIRAD institute, had predicted Morocco would only reach the 100,000-ton milestone by 2027 or 2028.

“Morocco’s rapid growth has clearly outpaced projections,” noted one industry analyst familiar with the Rabobank report.

The country’s success stems from several factors. Between 2018 and 2023, avocado-growing areas tripled to 12,000 hectares, thanks to private investment and good weather in regions like the Gharb area.

Exporters also benefit from the country’s shipping season, which runs from September to March, a window with fewer competitors in the global market.

Additionally, Morocco’s proximity to Europe and the absence of customs duties or entry price restrictions in the EU market provide a strong advantage.

Ethiopia expands avocado plans to 150,000 hectares

While Morocco rises in the export rankings, Ethiopia is quietly building its own foundation for long-term growth. The government has announced plans to increase land dedicated to avocado farming from 30,000 to 150,000 hectares within five years.

Speaking to the Ethiopian News Agency on July 20, Ashenafi Kinfu, deputy director of the Regional Bureau of Agriculture, said the expansion falls under the Green Legacy Initiative.

“A coordinated effort between regional and federal institutions includes the provision of improved seedlings, the strengthening of farmer training and the improvement of market opportunities. This year alone, 1.8 million avocado seedlings have already been prepared as part of the Green Legacy Initiative,” Kinfu said.

The initiative aims to support food security and improve foreign exchange earnings. “The avocado has great potential to strengthen Ethiopia’s foreign exchange earnings and improve food security. The avocado has become a priority in the government’s horticultural initiative,” Kinfu added.

In 2023, Ethiopia produced 167,556 tons of avocados, yet only exported an average of 3,475 tons per year between 2019 and 2023, according to FAO data.

The export segment remains small but is expected to grow as more land comes under cultivation and market systems improve.

By the end of its 2024/2025 fiscal year, Ethiopia earned US$565 million from 286,000 tons of horticultural exports. The Ministry of Agriculture now aims to grow that figure by 30 percent, targeting US$734 million in revenue for the 2025/2026 fiscal year.

As global avocado demand grows, African producers are positioning themselves to meet both regional and international demand. Morocco’s strong export momentum and Ethiopia’s expanding production plans mark key developments in the continent’s horticultural trade.

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