Morocco sends record sweet pepper volumes to Germany in 2024/25 season

MOROCCO – Morocco strengthened its place in Germany’s sweet pepper market during the 2024/25 season, shipping more than 52,000 tons for the first time and setting a new high for trade between the two countries.

According to EastFruit, Germany imported 52,400 tons of Moroccan sweet peppers between October 2024 and September 2025. The shipments had a value close to €120 million, equal to about US$130 million. The volume marked a 20 percent rise from the previous season and confirmed steady growth that has now run for six seasons in a row.

“Morocco continues to expand its footprint in the German market, with shipments rising year after year and reaching a new seasonal high,” EastFruit said.

Germany’s growing role

Germany ranked as Morocco’s third largest export market for sweet peppers in 2024/25, after Spain and France. The country accounted for 14.7 percent of Morocco’s total sweet pepper exports, up sharply from earlier seasons.

Exports to Germany moved steadily through the year, with the strongest flows recorded from January to May. March stood out as the peak month, when shipments reached about 6,100 tons. While Spain and the Netherlands still dominate the German market with a combined share of about 80 percent, Morocco has held the third position since the 2019/20 season and has continued to gain ground.

Moroccan sweet peppers made up only 4.5 percent of Germany’s total imports in the 2019/20 season. By 2024/25, that share had climbed to more than 11.7 percent, showing a clear rise in Morocco’s presence. Germany sourced sweet peppers from 21 countries during the season, underlining the competitive nature of the market.

Wider export gains and pressures

The rise in shipments to Germany, along with higher volumes sent to the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, helped Morocco reach a new overall export high. Total sweet pepper exports in the 2024/25 marketing year reached 189,200 tons, the fifth straight season at a new peak. Export revenue stood at US$240 million, about 3.7 percent higher than the previous season.

Sweet peppers now rank as Morocco’s second most important vegetable export after tomatoes. The crop benefits from strong winter demand in the European Union, which absorbs more than 80 percent of shipments.

At the same time, late season heat reduced quality and output toward the end of the cycle. EastFruit noted that rising temperatures already affected volumes in 2024/25 and could shape future performance.

“Heat pressure has started to weigh on late season supply, even as overall exports continue to grow,” the market analyst said.

Looking ahead, steady growth of about 3 to 5 percent per year remains possible if winter demand holds and growers manage heat risks. Strong competition from Spain and the Netherlands, along with climate stress, will continue to test Morocco’s gains in the years ahead.

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