Moroccan Watermelon Exports to EU Plummet 50% Amid Drought and Weak Demand

15 September 2024 – byPrince@Bladi · 1 min read

Moroccan watermelon exports recorded a worrying decline in the first half of 2024 due to weak demand from European countries. A situation that affects exporters, who are already facing a reduction in production due to persistent drought and lack of rain.

According to Hortoinfo data, Moroccan watermelon exports to the European market fell by 50.31%, while those of Spain fell by 51.81%. Moroccan exporters sold 85.09 million kilos for 74.72 million euros (0.88 euros per kilo) during the period, compared to 160.89 million fewer kilos for 133.04 million euros (0.89 euros per kilo) for the Spaniards.

Imports of Moroccan watermelons by EU countries fell by 34.59% in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period last year, reaching 637.82 million kilos. Despite this decline, Moroccan watermelons account for 13.34% of total European imports.

The Netherlands, which is not a watermelon producing country, remains the third largest supplier to the EU, after Morocco and Spain. The country re-exported 69.32 million kilos worth 77.55 million euros (1.12 euros per kilo), up 6.49% from a year earlier.

Category: Morocco

Keywords:

European Union Exports Agriculture