EastFruit reports that Moroccan melon exporters bounced back from a dismal year in 2022 and achieved impressive export results in 2023, despite facing a severe drought and other climatic challenges.
Morocco exported nearly 57 thousand tons of melons from January to November 2023, a 25% increase from the whole of 2022, which saw the lowest export volume in recent history. This result also surpassed the five-year average by 5% and ranked among the highest levels in the past years.
The main drivers of the export growth were the record-breaking supplies in May and July 2023, which contrasted with the low sales of Moroccan melons abroad until May. The 12 thousand tons of exports in July 2023 were especially remarkable, as they were almost 12 times as high the figure of 2022.
France was the dominant destination for Moroccan melons, accounting for almost two-thirds of the total exports from Morocco. The exports to France rose by 15% to 36 thousand tons in January-November of last year.
Spain was the second-largest market for Moroccan melons, where a record volume of melons was exported last year. Spanish importers increased their purchases of Moroccan melons 2.6 times, reaching a record 13.8 thousand tons for almost the entire calendar year 2023.
The export of melons to other countries that were less important for Morocco remained more stable. Portugal imported 2 thousand tons of Moroccan products, while Mauritania and Italy imported 1.9 thousand tons and 1.3 thousand tons respectively. Smaller batches of melons from Morocco were also exported to Belgium (750 tons), the Netherlands (395 tons), the UK (374 tons), and some other countries.
For more information: east-fruit.com