Morocco’s Avocado Exports Drop After ‘Difficult but Exceptional’ Season

Rabat – Morocco’s avocado export campaign has ended on a mixed note, with industry leaders describing the season as both “exceptional and very difficult.” After a record-breaking 2024/2025 season that saw Morocco produce and export 100,000 tons, this year’s campaign recorded a sharp decline in volume. 

Fresh Plaza quoted Abdellah El Yamlahi, president of the Moroccan Avocado Association, as saying that national exports reached only 58,000 tons during the 2025/2026 season.

“This lack of volume made the campaign especially complex and unusual,” he said. Despite lower production, prices remained high throughout the season, which made it harder for exporters to sell their products in international markets.

Unfavorable weather conditions largely contributed to the drop in output. Early heatwaves led to significant losses, wiping out nearly half of the expected production. These losses created tensions between producers and exporters, particularly over pricing.

At the same time, Moroccan exporters faced strong competition in the European market, where there were long periods of oversupply from other avocado-producing countries. This added pressure on Moroccan operators and even led to temporary pauses in harvesting during certain periods.

Logistical challenges further complicated the campaign. Exporters dealt with port closures caused by bad weather, limited transport availability, and long delays. These issues affected the quality of the fruit, especially toward the end of the season.

Weather conditions worsened again in the final stages, with floods and strong winds hitting key production areas such as Loukkos and Gharb in northern Morocco. These events caused additional crop losses and further strained the sector.

Beyond production challenges, Morocco’s avocado industry continues to face criticism over water use. Avocados are known to require large amounts of water, and many activists and observers have raised concerns about expanding avocado farming in a country that has faced years of drought.

However, the government recently announced an improvement in the country’s water situation following exceptionally heavy rainfall in recent months. Officials say these rains have helped ease the drought that has affected Morocco for years and offer some relief to farmers and the agricultural sector.

Still, industry professionals hope this difficult season is an exception and that Morocco’s avocado sector will soon return to its recent growth and strong performance.

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