Morocco’s citrus industry is a cornerstone of its agricultural success, with the Nadorcott mandarin leading the charge as a premium variety capturing international markets. Renowned for its vibrant flavor, near-seedless profile, and late-season availability, the Nadorcott, branded as “Nadorine, Naturally Low Seed,” showcases Morocco’s innovative farming and export prowess and cements Morocco’s leadership in premium mandarin exports, EastFruit writes.
This article highlights the Nadorcott’s unique qualities, Morocco’s impressive achievements in foreign markets, and recent trade initiatives, positioning it as a top choice for global buyers seeking quality and sustainability.
The Nadorcott Mandarin: Morocco’s Citrus Jewel
Developed in the 1980s by researcher Nadori El Bachir at Morocco’s National Institute of Agricultural Research (INRA), the Nadorcott is a natural Murcott mandarin hybrid, first commercially planted in 1990 by Les Domaines Agricoles. Cultivated across 40,000 hectares in regions like Souss-Massa, Marrakech, Gharb, Safi, Béni-Mellal, Berkane, and Kelaa, it thrives in Morocco’s ideal climate. The 2024/2025 season saw Berkane alone produce an estimated 192,000 tons of citrus, with 60% comprising clementines and mandarins, including Nadorcott.
The Nadorcott’s allure lies in its standout traits: a bright orange hue, a 14–16% brix level for a sweet-tart balance, minimal seeds (often zero), and an easy-to-peel skin. Harvested from January to April, its late-season availability fills a market gap as competitors like Spain and China scale back exports. The Association of Nadorcott Producers in Morocco (APNM) ensures quality through isolated orchards to prevent cross-pollination, maintaining natural self-sterility without genetic modification. This dedication has made Nadorcott a benchmark for consistency, with exports boasting low seed counts and superior organoleptic quality.
Protecting the Nadorcott Legacy
The Nadorcott’s global success has sparked challenges, notably with the Tango variety, a seedless mandarin developed in California through irradiation-induced mutation of the W. Murcott. According to a June 2024 EastFruit report, the APNM issued warnings to supermarkets in Europe and North America against selling Tango mandarins mislabeled as Nadorcott or Murcott, citing patent infringements. The Nadorcott’s protected status, managed by the Nadorcott Protection company since 2003, restricts its cultivation to licensed growers in Morocco and select regions like Spain, South Africa, and Israel. Unauthorized Tango sales, often priced lower, undermine the Nadorcott’s premium branding. Legal actions in countries like Spain, Germany, and Canada have reinforced its intellectual property, ensuring market integrity and protecting Morocco’s export reputation.
Morocco’s Export Dominance
Morocco is the world’s fifth-largest mandarin exporter, shipping 495,000 tons in 2022, trailing South Africa by just 25,000 tons. The 2024/2025 season projects citrus exports to reach 597,000 tons, a 31% increase year-over-year, cementing Morocco’s status as Africa’s third-largest citrus exporter after South Africa and Egypt. Mandarins, led by Nadorcott, are Morocco’s top fruit export, generating $290 million in the 2022/2023 marketing year (September–April).
Key markets include the European Union (34% of mandarin exports by value), Canada and the United States. Canada is a standout, importing a record 73,000 tons in 2022/2023, representing 45% of its total mandarin imports and making Morocco its top supplier. Despite a 25% export drop in 2022 due to low yields, Morocco boosted shipments to Canada, filling gaps left by South Africa and Peru. The UK, post-Brexit, imported $47 million in mandarins within $542 million of Moroccan fruit and vegetable exports in 2022.
Trade Missions Open New Markets
Southeast Asia presents significant growth potential, with Morocco exporting 630 metric tons of mandarins to Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore in 2023/2024, despite Red Sea disruptions. In April 2025 FAO and ERBD jointly with FoodEx Morocco organized a historic trade mission to Singapore and Malaysia, to promote Nadorcott and other citrus varieties. The mission secured preliminary export deals, with Singapore’s and Malaysia’s importers expressing keen interest in Nadorcott’s late-season availability. Southeast Asia’s mandarin imports could reach 500,000 tons annually, with Vietnam alone importing 200,000–300,000 tons, offering a prime opportunity for Moroccan exporters. Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East, accounting for 10% and 4% of exports in 2022, respectively, are also expanding markets.
Sustainability and Innovation Fuel Growth
Morocco’s export success is underpinned by sustainable practices and innovation. Despite arid conditions, it ranks as the world’s third fastest-growing fruit and vegetable exporter, leveraging advanced irrigation and climate-smart agriculture. Nadorcott producers minimize chemical fertilizers, aligning with global demand for eco-friendly produce. The APNM’s traceability and variety identification systems ensure premium quality, enhancing the Nadorcott’s reputation.
Government support includes investments in 53 citrus packing facilities with an 850,000-ton capacity and new cold-storage infrastructure, ensuring freshness for long-distance markets like North America, where Nadorcott shipments reached the U.S. East Coast in January 2025, available until April. The launch of www.nadorine.com further boosts visibility, inviting global buyers to explore the variety’s story.
Navigating Challenges
Competition from lower-priced Egyptian Murcott mandarins pressures European markets, where Nadorcott’s higher production costs reflect its quality focus. Drought and water scarcity remain concerns, though expanded cultivation in Gharb and Berkane has lifted 2024/2025 yields. To stabilize prices, a 2025 APNM poster campaign promoted Nadorcott domestically. The introduction of SweetCott, a new mandarin extending the season to May, signals Morocco’s innovation, potentially mirroring Nadorcott’s success.
A Bright Future for Nadorcott
The Moroccan Nadorcott mandarin embodies the nation’s agricultural excellence, with 597,000 tons of citrus exports projected for 2024/2025, a 45% share of Canada’s mandarin imports, and new inroads in Southeast Asia. Its unmatched flavor, sustainable production, and protected status make it a standout for retailers and consumers. Recent trade missions to Singapore and Malaysia, as reported by EastFruit, underscore Morocco’s ambition to conquer high-growth markets.
For importers seeking a premium citrus product, Nadorcott offers reliability and prestige. Morocco’s robust export infrastructure, quality commitment, and strategic outreach ensure partnerships with Nadorcott producers will yield strong returns. As Morocco continues to innovate and expand, the Nadorcott mandarin is set to solidify its place as a global citrus leader, driving economic growth and delighting palates worldwide.
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