Morocco’s latest export campaign towards Russia should soon begin, but authorities are making sure that necessary measures are taken so as not to make the same mistakes as last season.
With serious competition from Egypt, South Africa and Turkey, Morocco believed that Moscow would be a real outlet for their produce. Morocco exported 586,000 tons of citrus fruits in total and increased their exports to Russia who received 200,000 tons of fruits compared to the normal 120,000 tons.
But the inability of the Russian market to take in all of the Moroccan fruit was made worse by the plummeting prices of fruit leading to severe losses for Moroccan farmers who sell on consignment.
Moroccan authorities have now made some reforms, the most important of which is setting up a citrus fruit coordination committee which reunites professionals over the entire production value. Their role will be to follow the markets and deal with logistical aspects and exports.