Moroccan avocado producers block exports

Activity is almost non-existent in independent farms. While the season has officially started, only large groups with their own logistics network continue to ship. This voluntary stoppage is the result of a tariff disagreement: the farmers are demanding income equivalent to last year, a demand that the exporters reject, claiming they cannot align due to the current drop in prices in Europe.

The situation is paradoxical because this year’s national production has a high qualitative profile, indicates Fresh Plaza. The excessive temperatures of the summer have reduced yields, which has allowed the remaining fruits to benefit from more nutrients and reach significant sizes.

While these large fruits are usually a commercial advantage, they are not enough to counter the current competition. A professional indicates that the South American supply is saturating the market. The massive volumes imported from Peru, Chile and Colombia are driving prices down. Faced with this reality, the Moroccan sector has opted to wait. Producers hope that competing stocks will decrease by January, allowing a resumption of sales after the usual slowdown in consumption in December.