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Rabat – Morocco continues to be among the leaders of watermelon suppliers to the European market, despite pledges to step up efforts to tackle the water crisis.
Agriculture-focused website Hortoinfo shared new statistics placing Morocco as the second largest supplier of watermelon to the EU, closely following Spain, which remains the largest exporter.
“In the first six months of 2025, Morocco recovered its watermelon sales in the European Union (EU),” Hortoinfo wrote. The number increased by 53.49% compared to the same period last year.
From January 1 to June 30, EU member states imported 689,03 million kilograms of watermelon, and Morocco supplied the market with 130 million kilos.
Morocco’s produce accounted for 18.95% of the total exported watermelon batches to the European market, representing an increase of 45.51 million kilograms (or an increase of 53.49%) compared to the same period in 2024.
The North African kingdom generated €162.43 million from watermelon exports, selling its produce at a “higher price” of €1.24 per kilogram.
Spain remains the top supplier, with an increase representing 21.85% of the total supply. The Netherlands comes third after Morocco, with 65.01 million kilograms marketed in the EU.
Turkey is the fourth largest supplier with 44.04 million kilograms.
The exporting of water-thirsty crops is frequently met by concerns from citizens and observers, especially due to drought challenges.
Morocco has experienced seven consecutive seasons of drought, and the government has pledged to address the situation through policy changes.
Among these bold changes are the cancellation of Eid Al Adha sacrifice ritual, and a ban on slaughtering female goats and ewe livestock.
Beyond watermelon, new statistics also show a growth in Morocco’s avocado production.
The African Exponent has recently listed Morocco among the top 10 avocado producers in Africa, ranking the country as the third largest supplier on the continent.
The report cited statistics from 2023, where Morocco produced at least 118,666 tons of avocados.
In July, a study by the US-based National Drought Mitigation Center in partnership with the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), identified Morocco among the hardest-hit countries by drought in the Mediterranean basin.
The report said that drought has long defined the country’s climate, stating that the North African kingdom “should become more arid over the course of the 21st century.”
The report suggested that droughts were expected to strike the country more often, adding that water availability could fall to 400 cubic meters by 2050.
