The popularity of imported apple varieties in Morocco continues to rise. In the first ten months of 2024, the country imported 9.3 thousand tonnes of apples worth over $65 million, marking a record high since 2011, according to EastFruit.
The import dynamics over the past five years show an almost annual increase in the volume of apples brought into the country, with the exception of 2023, when import figures slightly decreased. Compared to 2020, apple imports in Morocco in 2024 increased by nearly 50%.
As previously reported by EastFruit, Morocco has been quite successful in independently growing apples, which are not traditionally associated with Africa. In 2022, Morocco was the second-largest producer of these fruits in Africa, after South Africa. Traditionally, Moroccans prefer local apples, so the peak import period is in spring and summer, when there is a shortage of the previous year’s local harvest.
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Recently, Morocco has shown a preference for global apple varieties such as “Gala Royal,” “Golden Delicious,” “Fuji,” “Golden Smoothie,” “Ozark Gold,” “Anna,” “Starking Delicious,” and others. However, the share of local varieties remains significant.
Apples are predominantly imported into Morocco from European countries. Italy is the main supplier, accounting for 46% of apple imports from January to October 2024. It is followed by Spain with 27% and Poland with 13%. Notably, compared to the previous year, Italy and Spain increased their apple exports to Morocco, while the volume of apples imported from Poland and Portugal decreased. In total, 13 countries exported apples to Morocco in 2024.
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