Morocco has significantly expanded its footprint in the Canadian citrus market, doubling its grapefruit exports and setting a new record in marketing year (MY) 2024/25, according to EastFruit.
Between November 2024 and August 2025, Morocco exported 1,500 metric tons of grapefruits to Canada, valued at $1.67 million USD. This volume is more than twice the average of the previous three marketing years and marks the highest level of Moroccan grapefruit exports to Canada to date.
Canada remains the leading destination for Moroccan grapefruit, accounting for over 30% of the country’s total grapefruit exports in MY 2024/25. The export window typically spans December through April, with peak shipments occurring in January and February. This year, February alone saw a record 500 metric tons shipped.
Also read: Morocco’s lemon exports surge after four-year slump
Due to its climate, Canada does not produce grapefruit commercially and relies entirely on imports to meet domestic demand. However, grapefruit consumption in Canada has been steadily declining, mirroring global trends. In the 1990s, annual imports reached 70,000 tons, but fell to 50,000 tons in the 2000s, then to 40,000 tons in the 2010s. In recent years, imports have hovered below 30,000 tons, and MY 2024/25 may set a new record low.
The top suppliers to Canada’s grapefruit market are South Africa, China, and the United States, collectively covering over 60% of total imports. Notably, the U.S. share has declined in recent years. South African fruit dominates from June to August, gradually giving way to Chinese imports in September. U.S. grapefruit typically enters the market starting in November.
Consumer demand peaks between November and January, prompting Canada to ramp up imports from Israel, Turkey, Mexico, and Morocco. From February through April, these countries dominate the market. In February 2025, Moroccan grapefruit held a 26% market share.
Remarkably, Morocco was one of the few suppliers to increase exports to Canada during MY 2024/25, bucking the overall trend of declining imports. This follows a broader pattern of Moroccan success in Canadian produce markets – over the past three marketing years, Moroccan blueberry exports to Canada have surged 17-fold.
The use of the site materials is free if there is a direct and open for search engines hyperlink to a specific publication of the East-Fruit.com website.
