Morocco is poised for a remarkable recovery in its lemon export market during the 2024/25 marketing year (MY), rebounding from a four-year decline, according to EastFruit. Favorable weather conditions in Morocco and a global dip in lemon production in 2024 have fueled this resurgence.
In the first half of MY 2024/25 (October–September), Morocco exported 6,100 metric tons of lemons, generating $2.7 million in revenue. This marks the highest export volume for the October–March period since MY 2020/21, with earnings nearly equaling the total revenue of the previous marketing year.
Lemons rank as Morocco’s third most significant citrus export, trailing far behind mandarins and oranges in volume. For context, even during the peak MY 2019/20, lemon exports reached 17,000 tons—seven times less than orange exports and over 23 times less than mandarin exports.
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Nevertheless, lemons play a vital role in Morocco’s citrus portfolio, enabling exporters to diversify their offerings and maintain a year-round market presence. Unlike mandarins, lemon exports experience less pronounced seasonal fluctuations, ensuring consistent supply availability.
Since MY 2019/20, Morocco’s lemon exports had been on a downward trajectory, hitting a low of 5,000 tons in MY 2023/24.
Several factors contributed to this decline:
- Climate Challenges: Prolonged droughts in 2022 and 2023 severely impacted citrus yields, with limited rainfall and irrigation resources constraining production.
- Logistical Barriers: Geopolitical disruptions, including sanctions and altered trade routes, restricted access to Russia, a key market. In MY 2023/24, exports to Russia were nearly nonexistent.
- Intensified Competition: Growing competition from other lemon exporters, notably Turkey, created tougher conditions in European markets such as the Netherlands, France, and Russia.
In 2024, improved weather conditions revitalized Morocco’s lemon production, while a one-third drop in Turkey’s lemon output (the world’s second-largest exporter) in MY 2024/25, as reported by FAS USDA, opened opportunities for Moroccan exporters to reclaim traditional markets. Mauritania remains the top destination, receiving over 40% of Morocco’s citrus exports in the first six months of MY 2024/25. Exports to the United Kingdom are surging, and shipments to Russia and Canada have resumed. Morocco is also regaining traction in France and the Netherlands.
Furthermore, Morocco is expanding its export reach. After a two-year hiatus, shipments to the United States have restarted, and after four years, exports to Sweden have resumed. New markets, including Latvia and Kazakhstan, have also received initial shipments. With the export marketing year still ongoing, Morocco is on track to potentially exceed the export performance of MY 2020/21.
In parallel, Morocco’s mandarin exports are also showing signs of recovery, signaling a broader resurgence in the country’s citrus industry.
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