Morocco posts 38% rise in orange exports as sector gains ground
Strong demand and state backing lift shipments, even as water stress and global competition shape the outlook.
MOROCCO – Morocco has recorded a sharp rise in orange exports in the 2024/2025 season, pointing to renewed momentum in a key farm segment after years of pressure from dry weather and rising costs.
According to data compiled by East Fruit, Morocco exported 84,600 tonnes of oranges worth US$61 million by the end of the 2024/2025 marketing year. This figure marks a 38% increase from the previous season and confirms a second year of growth since 2022/2023.
Morocco ranks as Africa’s third largest citrus exporter after South Africa and Egypt, with oranges standing as the second most shipped citrus fruit after mandarins.
Demand lifts shipments across key markets
East Fruit links the growth mainly to steady demand in long standing export markets. With the exception of the United States, shipments to all other major destinations rose over the year.
“Exports to Canada have jumped by 65% […] exports to the United Kingdom have increased sevenfold, those to Saudi Arabia by five and those to Spain by three,” the source reports.
Beyond market demand, public backing has played a role. In May 2025, the Moroccan government approved a new export support scheme for fresh citrus, set to run for five agricultural seasons from 2024 to 2028.
Under this plan, exporters receive a flat premium of 1,000 dirhams per tonne, equivalent to about US$107.7, for citrus shipped to the European Union, the United Kingdom, and selected African countries. The policy has helped firms manage costs and keep products competitive abroad.
Slower pace expected in 2025/2026
Despite the recent gains, forecasts for the current season remain cautious. In a report released on December 17, the US Department of Agriculture expects orange exports to level off at around 85,000 tonnes in the 2025/2026 campaign.
The USDA points to ongoing drought effects, water limits, and stiff competition from lower cost producers.
“Moroccan exporters continue to face intense competition from Egypt and Turkey, where production costs are significantly lower. In the case of Egypt, a favourable exchange rate has strengthened price competitiveness, allowing exports at lower tariffs, while higher labour costs in Morocco and persistent water constraints are weighing on production,” the report states.
Rainfall brings relief after long drought
These market pressures come as Morocco begins to emerge from a severe dry spell. On January 12, 2026, Minister of Equipment and Water Nizar Baraka told Parliament that the country had reached the end of a seven year drought cycle. He said rainfall since December rose 95% above last year’s level and 17% above the winter average, while dam filling rates climbed to 46%.
The drought had taken a heavy toll. Cereal output fell 42% to 3.3 million tonnes in 2023/2024, livestock numbers dropped by 38% since 2016, and the government estimates the loss of one million farm jobs. To reduce future risk, Morocco plans to supply 60% of its drinking water from desalination by 2030, up from 25% today.
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