Morocco’s citrus production is forecast to rise by nearly 12% for the upcoming 2024-25 season, according to the World Citrus Organisation’s (WCO) Northern Hemisphere Citrus Forecast released in November.
The forecast is the first of its kind for the region. Included in the data was Egypt, Spain, Italy, and the US, estimated a total citrus production of 27.3 million metric tons, marking an 8.73% decrease from the previous season.
Morocco’s expected growth stands out, with a forecast of 2.14 million metric tons, up by 11.97% from the 2023-24 season.
WCO highlighted a range of factors contributing to the overall decline in production, including climate challenges like late frost, droughts, and heatwaves, which have particularly impacted major citrus-producing nations such as Egypt and Türkiye.
Secretary General of WCO, Philippe Binard, noted geopolitical instability and rising inflation have also exerted pressure on consumer demand for citrus products globally.
While other Mediterranean countries are seeing declines—Türkiye’s production is expected to drop by 17.57% and Egypt’s by 19.55%—Morocco’s robust citrus sector remains an exception.
This growth is a positive signal for Morocco’s agricultural industry and its role in the global citrus market. Additionally, WCO projects a reduction in citrus exports, expected to decrease by 8.94%, with a corresponding dip in processing volumes.