Morocco Becomes Africa’s Top Avocado Exporter with 141 000 Tonnes

This is a historic achievement for Moroccan agriculture. According to the FAO’s annual review, the Kingdom shipped nearly 141 046 tonnes of avocados in 2025, compared with 73 848 tonnes the previous year. This spectacular surge enabled Morocco to seize the continental lead from Kenya, whose exports fell by 19 % to 105 164 tonnes. This rise is built on an aggressive expansion strategy, with the harvested area increasing by 40 % between 2022 and 2024.

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Morocco’s success is largely explained by favorable geopolitical circumstances. While East African producers have been hit hard by the Red Sea crisis and Houthi attacks – forcing ships to avoid the Suez Canal and doubling transit times –, Morocco is benefiting from its ideal geographical position. Spared these logistical disruptions, 90 % of Moroccan avocados reached European Union shelves quickly and at lower cost.

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Although the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) also attributes this record to favorable weather, this economic success is fueling an ecological debate. The massive expansion of avocado cultivation, a particularly water-intensive crop intended for export, continues to draw criticism in a country facing structural water stress and persistent drought.