Anger of farmers in Spain: the "Moroccan model" that is shaking everything up

The northern neighbor has become dependent on the Kingdom’s orchards. According to data from the Spanish Ministry of Economy, imports of Moroccan oranges and mandarins have soared by 272.1% between January and October 2025. In less than a year, volumes have increased from 7,341 to 27,325 tons, confirming Morocco’s takeover of this strategic market segment.

It is on the mandarin that the knockout is the most flagrant. Morocco has established itself as Spain’s number one supplier, far ahead of South Africa or Egypt. The figures are dizzying: sales have been multiplied by five, reaching nearly 17,000 tons. For comparison, Portugal, the leading European partner, exported only 958 tons, 17 times less than Morocco.

This onslaught comes as the Spanish harvest collapses (-8%). For local producers, the situation is untenable. They accuse Morocco of undercutting prices thanks to cheaper labor and more flexible phytosanitary standards. A pressure that, according to them, "kills" the small Spanish family farms, unable to align with the Kingdom’s rates.