Morocco is anticipated to see its citrus production increase to 2.14 million tons in 2024, a forecast by the World Citrus Organization (WCO) suggests. This uptick occurs amidst persistent drought conditions, setting Morocco apart from European nations expecting production declines.
The WCO's report underscores Morocco's across-the-board citrus category growth: oranges are set to increase by 14%, lemons by 18%, sweet lemons by 9%, and grapefruits by 16%. Over the last four years, Morocco has registered a cumulative growth of 24%, marking the region's highest expansion rate.
Alongside Egypt, which is also forecasting a 14% increase in orange production, Morocco stands as a notable performer in the Northern Hemisphere's citrus sector this season. Conversely, Portugal reports a 3.37% decrease in its citrus production, marking its first participation in the WCO forecast.
WCO Secretary-General Philippe Binard commented on the broader market challenges, including climate-related issues and economic factors, stating, "The market will still be impacted by consumer demand under pressure due to limited purchasing power."
Within the Mediterranean, Morocco ranks third in citrus production, trailing Turkey and Egypt, whose outputs fluctuate between 4 and 6 million tons. Morocco's production has consistently hovered around 2 million tons annually, reaching a high of 2.6 million tons in 2021 before a drop to 1.7 million tons in 2022 due to adverse weather conditions.
Despite facing criticism from Spanish agricultural unions over "unfair competition," Morocco continues to solidify its presence in the global citrus market, evidenced by its steady production growth.
Source: Morocco World News