Morocco is aiming to increase its citrus exports from the current 600-650,000 tons to 1 million tons by 2022. One of the aims of the Commercial Acceleration Plan for Moroccan Citrus Exports is to export an additional 200,000 tons to Europe and 300,000 tons to African countries.
Citrus acreage has increased under the Green Morocco Plan, currently reaching 130,000 hectares of which 100,000 hectares is in production. By 2022 the whole 130,000 hectares will be producing. Redouane Arrach, Director of Strategy and Statistics at the Ministry of Agriculture says that "the potential is enormous". If average yield is 23 tons/hectare, then in theory production could reach over 3 million tons. Morocco will not only gain new markets but reinforce themselves on other markets that have been "neglected".
Whilst Morocco was one of the main suppliers to the EU market, the commercial agreement with Russia directed them to this new market, leaving room for competitors on the European market. Egypt and South Africa in particular have made the most of the situation to develop on the European market.