Morocco has continued to expand its role in the United Kingdom’s sweet pepper trade, posting strong growth for the third consecutive marketing year, according to EastFruit. Between October 2025 and June 2026 the UK imported 10,400 tons of Moroccan sweet peppers valued at more than £17 million. This represents a 60 percent increase compared with MY 2024/25 and nearly triple the volumes shipped in MY 2023/24. Over the past three years, Moroccan exports to the UK have grown 5.8 times, with an average annual growth rate of 80 percent.
Moroccan sweet peppers are available in the UK almost year‑round, with the main export window running from October to May. Peak shipments occur in the winter months, aligning with the UK’s highest import demand. In MY 2025/26, the largest monthly volume was recorded in February, when imports reached 1,800 tons. During that period, Morocco’s share of total UK imports exceeded 9 percent.
Spain and the Netherlands remain the dominant suppliers, together accounting for more than 80 percent of UK imports. Germany currently holds third place, but Morocco has already narrowed the gap to less than 1,000 tons. With German volumes stable for three years and Moroccan shipments rising rapidly, competition for a top‑three position is intensifying. France, meanwhile, continues to lose ground. Imports from France fell by half compared with the previous year, marking the third consecutive decline. As a result, France has already slipped behind Germany and Morocco and risks dropping out of the top five altogether, with Belgium poised to overtake thanks to its seasonal peak in late summer and early autumn.
For the third consecutive marketing year, Morocco has demonstrated one of the fastest growth rates among sweet pepper suppliers to the UK. If current momentum continues, Moroccan peppers could surpass German volumes as early as MY 2026/27, while France faces further erosion of its market share.
Overall, the competitive landscape in the UK sweet pepper market is shifting in favor of more agile and fast‑growing suppliers. Traditional exporters with stable but stagnant volumes are gradually ceding ground to Morocco and other dynamic players.
This expansion mirrors Morocco’s broader advance in the UK fresh produce sector, where the country is also challenging Spain’s dominance in mandarins and consolidating its role in berries and other vegetables.
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