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Rabat – Morocco continues to make strides in the international agricultural market, maintaining its position as one of the top watermelon exporters to the European Union despite facing its sixth consecutive year of severe drought.
According to a report from agricultural data platform “Horto Info,” the North African kingdom ranked fourth among the EU’s top watermelon suppliers this season.
Moroccan watermelon exports reached an impressive 97.64 million kilograms, generating €81.99 million in revenue.
However, some countries bucked the downward trend. Senegal’s watermelon exports to the EU skyrocketed by 125.13%, while Turkey saw a 50.71% increase. The Netherlands, known for its role in re-exporting watermelons from other countries, recorded a 16.22% rise in sales.
Spain, while retaining its position as the EU’s largest watermelon supplier with a 30.55% market share, saw its revenue impacted by falling volumes. The country exported 423.99 million kilos of watermelon, generating €317.08 million.
Despite the decline, Spanish watermelons fetched a higher price, averaging €0.75 per kilo. Italy followed with 184.02 million kilos sold, valued at €98.69 million, at an average price of €0.54 per kilo.
The Netherlands, largely reliant on re-exports, managed to sell 110.97 million kilos of watermelon, with 69.3% originating from countries like Brazil, Costa Rica, and Spain.
Their re-export strategy allowed them to achieve one of the highest prices in the market, averaging €1.05 per kilo.
Morocco’s success in the European watermelon market reflects the resilience of its agricultural sector, which continues to thrive in the face of climate adversity.
The European Union itself has seen a significant reduction in watermelon imports, with overall purchases dropping by 23.7% over the last five seasons.
Despite these challenges, Morocco’s competitive pricing and strong agricultural performance position it as a key player in the evolving EU market.
