Morocco has set a new record for mango imports, as incoming commodities of this tropical fruit have doubled since 2017. The first nine months of 2023 alone is rapidly approaching the total imports for the entirety of last year, according to data analytics platform “EastFruit.”
Despite not being among the top mango importers globally, Morocco witnessed one of the most rapid growth rates in demand for this fruit, second only to China, Jordan, and Brunei.
From 2017 to 2022, the country’s mango imports have been increasing at an average annual rate of 15%, outpacing major importers like the U.S., the Netherlands, and Germany, which saw much more modest increases.
In 2022, Morocco imported 12,600 tons of mangoes, and by September 2023, this figure had already reached 12.400 tons. While these numbers may also encompass guavas and mangosteens, the majority of the imports are mangoes.
Even though Morocco has a climate suitable for mango cultivation, its domestic production of this fruit remains relatively low, with FAOStat reporting an annual harvest of only 100-400 tons.
The majority of mangoes imported to Morocco originate from sub-Saharan Africa, with significant contributions also coming from Peru, Brazil, and Spain. Notably, Egypt emerged as a new entrant to the list of suppliers in 2023, having exported over 300 tons of mangoes to Morocco in September.
Peru and Brazil supply the Moroccan market from late autumn to early spring, after which African suppliers take over. Mali leads the supply in March–followed by Senegal and various other African nations–with Spain becoming a key supplier during the autumn peak season.