Morocco’s Watermelon Exports Wilt Under Drought Conditions
The juicy sweetness of Moroccan watermelons has become a little harder to come by in European markets. The North African nation, once a major exports-decline-drought-eu-2024/” title=”Drought Wilts Moroccan Watermelon Exports to European Union”>watermelon supplier to the EU, has seen its exports plummet by over 50% during the 2023/2024 season. This dramatic drop, attributed largely to persistent drought conditions, has pushed Morocco down to fourth place in the ranking of watermelon exporters to the EU, trailing behind Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands.
Data from Hortoinfo, a Spanish agricultural analysis firm, reveals a broader trend of declining watermelon exports across key supplying nations, with the exception of the Netherlands. While Spain, still the reigning champion of watermelon exports, experienced a 35% decrease, Morocco felt the heat most acutely with its 52% plunge.
This season, Morocco exported approximately 98 million kilograms of watermelon to the EU, representing a mere 7% of the bloc’s total watermelon imports. This translates to roughly 82 million euros in export value, with an average price of 0.84 euros per kilogram.
Despite its own dip in exports, Spain continues to dominate the European watermelon market. The country shipped a whopping 424 million kilograms of watermelons in the 2023/2024 season, capturing a significant 30.55% market share. This equates to 317.08 million euros in export value, with an average price of 0.75 euros per kilogram.
Italy holds the second-place position, having exported 184 million kilograms of watermelons, representing 13% of the EU’s total imports. The Netherlands follows closely behind with 111 million kilograms, accounting for 8% of the market share.
The decline in Morocco’s watermelon exports paints a stark picture of the challenges faced by the country’s agricultural sector due to ongoing drought. After achieving a record-breaking second-place ranking in the 2021/2022 season, Morocco’s watermelon production has struggled to keep pace.
This year, a combination of factors has contributed to a significant drop in watermelon yield. In addition to the relentless drought, infestations of aphids have ravaged crops, further impacting production. These challenges, coupled with existing restrictions on watermelon cultivation, have led to a scarcity of the fruit in both domestic and export markets.
