Rabat – Exporters wanting to export bottles exceeding 5 liters in size must submit their requests, starting from July 1, on Morocco’s platform PortNet to facilitate foreign trade, the Moroccan Ministry of Industry.
The ministry announced this decision on April 5, and it will come into effect on July 1, 2022.
Morocco aims to control the exported quantities and preserve the jobs of Moroccan workers in the sector, particularly those who fill argan oil bottles for a living, explained government spokesman Mustafa Baytas on April 7.
The difference between cosmetic and culinary argan oil is that cosmetic argan oil is made with unroasted kernels, whereas culinary argan oil is made with roasted kernels.
Culinary argan oil can be used to dip bread and add a tasty flavor to most dishes. Cosmetic argan oil is used to treat different types of acne and a smoother complexion on the face. It can also be used to treat burns and light skin injuries.
The Souss valley in south-western Morocco is the argan tree’s native habitat. Argan forests cover more than 71% of the Souss valley, cementing Morocco’s position as the leading international exporter of argan-based products.
Read also: Climate Change Will Shrink Morocco’s Argan Industry
The National Agency for the Development of Oasis and Argan Zones (ANDZOA) revealed last week that Morocco has invested, between 2011 and 2022, MAD 105 billion ($10.7 billion) to preserve the oasis and argan zones in the country. Argan gradually gained international popularity after 2011.
It takes approximately 60 kilograms of fruit, or the equivalent of 2 kilograms of almonds, to produce 1 liter of argan oil. Argan oil production in Morocco is estimated to be 4,000 to 6,000 tons per year, with exports ranging between 1,000 and 1,500 tons per year.
