Morocco, a key player in the global agricultural sector, has been showing its potential by breaking new records. Today, EastFruit invites you to take a look at the remarkable increase in Moroccan melon exports to Spain. In the first nine months of 2023, Moroccan exporters surpassed their previous records and shipped 13.8 thousand tons of this product to Spain, generating 10 million dollars in export revenue.
Morocco has been exporting melon to Spain consistently for many years. During this period, the annual supply volumes ranged from 4 to 8 thousand tons. The only exception was 2018, when more than 12 thousand tons of melons reached the Spanish markets. Spain faced a drought in 2017-2018, which resulted in a water shortage and a low yield of local products, forcing the country to increase its imports.
It is worth noting that traditionally, most of the Moroccan melon was imported to Spain in the spring months, followed by local products on the store shelves.
However, this year the weather was unfavorable for the Spanish farmers again. Heat, heavy rains, and even hail had a negative impact on the melon harvest. Therefore, Spain needed to import melon in the summer as well. But since the season in Senegal was already over at this time of the year, and Brazil had not started yet, Morocco seized the opportunity and became the main supplier. In July alone, about 8 thousand tons of Moroccan melon were delivered to the Spanish markets – more than half of the total volume delivered in 2023 (January through September).
Spain is a major player in the global melon market, ranking second among the exporters of this product in 2022, only slightly behind Guatemala.
At the same time, imported melons are in high demand in the local markets. In the first nine months of the current year, 78 thousand tons of melon came to Spain from abroad, which is an all-time high compared to the same periods of previous years. By importing this product, Spain ranks seventh in the world, and most of the melon is supplied to Spain from Brazil, usually two thirds of the total volume come from this country.
Spain also imports large quantities of melon from Senegal. However, if no supplies are expected from this direction this year, then the peak of imports from Brazil occurs in October-December, so the volumes will continue to grow.
Melons from 22 countries were delivered to the Spanish markets, and until recently, Morocco’s share in the overall import structure was 6-8%. And since Moroccan producers managed to deliver a record volume to the country in 2023, Morocco’s share increased to 18%. As a result, the North African country rose to third place among the suppliers of melon to Spain, overtaking the Netherlands, and is likely to stay there by the end of the year.
Read also: Morocco’s love for avocados: imports growing despite steady local production
Moroccan growers actively sell melon to foreign markets, ranking 12th among the world exporters. In the current year, almost 57 thousand tons of this product have already been delivered abroad, bringing Morocco more than 61 million dollars.
The lion’s share of melon is exported to France, and in 2023, melons from Morocco reached the markets of 40 countries.
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