Morocco Faces Freight Challenges to Russia for the 2022/23 Citrus Season

Danish shipping giant Maersk and France’s CMA CGM canceled shipments to and from Russia as part of sanctions imposed by European countries on Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine. The only shipping line that will serve Russia from Morocco for the 2022/23 citrus season will be MSC, which has closed the price of this service at USD 7,500 compared to the USD 3,000 charged at the start of the 2021/22 season in October 2021. Russia is the largest export market for Moroccan mandarins, accounting for almost a third of exports in the 2021/22 season. With Maersk and CMA CGM out of the equation for the 2022/23 citrus season, the question becomes whether logistics agents will find alternative freight solutions or will exporters opt for alternative markets? Taking into account the new cold treatment regulations imposed by the EU on South African citrus, Morocco could fill the gap left by South African citrus in EU markets instead of sending citrus to Russia.