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Rabat – The UN FAO’s annual market review of major tropical fruits reports that Morocco now ranks as the number one African exporter of avocados, after nearly doubling 2024 quantities from 73,848 tons to nearly 141,046 tons in 2025.
The report also shared data provided by Morocco’s Agriculture Ministry in April 2025, showing a 40% expansion in harvested area from 2022 to 2024. Data for the first nine months of 2025 showed that approximately 90% of avocado shipments from Morocco were destined for European Union markets over this period.
Morocco beat out Kenya as Africa’s lead producer as Kenya’s avocado exports fell 19% from 129,706 in 2024 to 105,164 in 2025. The report links this fall in avocado exports from Kenya and South Africa, as well as broader export slumps from sub-Saharan regions, to logistical bottlenecks and high shipping costs caused by the Red Sea crisis.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels increased attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea in 2025. Shipping companies were forced to avoid the Suez Canal, the fastest route to Europe. “Export potential was constrained by a near doubling of transit times to Europe due to the Red Sea crisis and the resulting surge in shipping costs,” the report said.
The United States Department of Agriculture also attributed Morocco’s improvement to favorable weather conditions during the growing period. Critics point out that Morocco relies on irrigation and off-season production for its agricultural exports, while the country experienced a long-term drought.
Water Minister Nizar Baraka declared in January an end to Morocco’s seven-year drought after the abundant rainfall this winter. In reality, the recent storms highlight a new pattern of climate extremes, where intense rains cause flooding and damage rather than providing a long-term solution to water scarcity.
Read also: Morocco’s Avocado Exports Reached 112,000 Tons in One Year
