Over the last twenty years, the acreage devoted to avocado cultivation has grown worldwide, reaching close to one million hectares in 2023, and all countries where avocado production is possible have experienced quick developments. Morocco has been one of them.
According to official figures shared by the FAO, its acreage in 2023 amounted to almost 11,500 hectares and has more than doubled over the last 5 years. Its production, with average yields of around 10,400 kilos per hectare, despite the high number of new plantations, easily exceeded 118,000 tons, and in the 2024/25 season "its production has increased again after several years affected by drought; the same drought that has hit us in Spain," says Juan Miguel and Álvaro González, from Tropicsur. "In fact, it was estimated that they would produce 100 million kilos, but in December we already saw that their production was going to be considerably greater. Many talk about 130 million kilos, although everything points to the final figure being even higher."
"Morocco has quickly become a very important supplier for the avocado market, very close to the European market and with a somewhat earlier production period than Spain," they say. "For these reasons, it's taking a lot of business away from Spain, and all operators are noticing it this year, and things could get worse if we don't join forces and react in time."
"The volumes still to be harvested in Morocco are enough to saturate the market"
"At Tropicsur, we haven't imported any Moroccan avocados so far this season. From the very beginning we have decided to work with Spanish avocados and proof of this commitment to our origins is the new plant we have inaugurated this year in Alicante," says Juan Miguel.
"However, despite all that effort, investment, and commitment we have made to Spanish avocados and Spanish producers, 80% of our Spanish Hass season, which will finish in three weeks, has overlapped with Morocco's. It's also our understanding that, like us, many other Spanish operators have been affected this year, with lower prices than in previous seasons, and some clients and supermarkets saying for the first time that they prefer working with Morocco because it offers them lower prices and a more regular supply than Spain. This should give the sector food for thought," he says.
"And this year in particular, in which Morocco has had an overproduction of avocados, we are hearing now, in the second half of February, that Morocco still has between 30 and 40 million kilos left to be harvested. So, taking into account that Europe consumes around 600-700 containers of avocados per week, and ignoring the fruit still left in Spain and the one that will come from Peru at the beginning of the season, Morocco's production alone is enough to saturate the market for the rest of February and a good part of March," says Juan Miguel.
"We've been having this problem since November, and things could get worse in 5 or 10 years' time, as they still have huge potential for growth thanks to new irrigation infrastructure being built in the country. The same can't be said about La Axarquía."
"The solution could be to change our harvesting period"
"It's undeniable that Morocco is there to stay, but precisely because of this, Spain must work to strengthen its sector with a solid, neutral, and expert interprofessional organization; one that will allow producers and marketers to set common strategies and have a more competitive position in the European market," say the experts.
"Of course, the administration should apply mirror clauses in social, labor, and phytosanitary matters to ensure they are forced to meet the same standards that European producers must adhere to. Moreover, Spain should regulate its avocado season to better define our marketing period and avoid this overlap between our campaign and the Moroccan season."
"Knowing that Morocco hits the market in November, Spain could wait until January to start harvesting. In this way, Morocco will have already dispatched a large part of its fruit in November and December, and Spain could start shipping to Europe without such high competition and, moreover, with fruit that will be fully ripe. In this way, Spain may become a big client for Morocco at the beginning of the season, and Morocco could become a big client for Spain in March and April," they say.
"We may obtain a more competitive average price and, above all, offer the security and regularity that our European clients demand, with Spanish fruit available from January to April. We have to remember that, in other years, Spain couldn't guarantee a supply in March and April. This has caused us to lose ground in the markets, but with growers, traders, and exporters all working together, the sector could manage to give our avocados the necessary added value," they say.
"For many years, Spain has been the leading avocado supplier in terms of quality and service in Europe, and we have to work to prevent losing that status in the future. We can do so under an interprofessional organization bringing the whole sector together."
"We must also promote ourselves as a source. If European retailers recognize Peru, Chile, or South Africa as sources, how can we accept some clients no longer talking about 'Spanish origin' in order to work with Morocco under a 'Mediterranean origin'?" asks Juan Miguel.
"We still have time to provide solutions, and we must do so before we regret not having done it in time," he says.
For more information:
Tropicsur
Tel.: +34 951 50 94 00
info@tropicsur.es
https://www.tropicsur.es/