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Join on Telegram Rabat – Morocco’s citrus production is projected to increase by 11.97% in 2024, reaching 2.14 million tons, according to the World Citrus Organization’s (WCO) latest forecast.
The growth comes despite ongoing drought conditions and contrasts sharply with declines anticipated in several European countries.
The WCO report highlights Morocco’s strong performance across all citrus categories. Orange production is expected to grow by 14%, lemons by 18%, sweet lemons by 9%, and grapefruits by 16%.
Over the past four years, Morocco has recorded the region’s most robust growth rate, with a cumulative increase of 24%.
The kingdom is one of the few countries in the Northern Hemisphere achieving significant citrus gains this season. It shares this distinction with Egypt, which also expects a 14% rise in orange production.
Meanwhile, Portugal, participating in the forecast for the first time, anticipates a 3.37% decline in overall citrus output.
Philippe Binard, WCO’s Secretary-General, noted that the citrus market faces ongoing pressures from climate challenges, including droughts, heat waves, and pests, as well as geopolitical instability and inflation.
“The market will still be impacted by consumer demand under pressure due to limited purchasing power,” he said.
Morocco is the third-largest citrus producer in the Mediterranean region. It follows Turkey and Egypt, whose annual outputs range between 4 and 6 million tons.
While Morocco’s production remains steady, with annual yields typically around 2 million tons, it peaked at 2.6 million tons in 2021 before dropping to 1.7 million tons in 2022 due to severe weather.
Spain continues to dominate citrus production in the European Union, with an average annual output of 6 million tons.
Spanish agricultural unions have criticized Moroccan citrus imports, citing “unfair competition,” but Morocco’s consistent growth demonstrates its expanding role in the global citrus market.
