Moroccan onion exports are rising despite severe drought

Fresh Onion

Vegetables

Morocco

Published May 23, 2023

Tridge summary

Despite Morocco's worst drought in three decades in the summer of 2022, the country continued to increase onion exports, according to EastFruit. In the first nine months of the current year (June 2022 - February 2023), Morocco has already exported more than 65,000 tons of onions, more than in the entire previous year 2021/22 (60,000 tons). In addition, Moroccan onion exports have increased sixfold in the past five years. Onions are one of the most export-oriented vegetable categories in Morocco.

Original content

In 2022, onions were the third most exported vegetable from Morocco after tomatoes and peppers. Onion exports usually peak in July-August and become minimal after February. The geography of Moroccan onion exports has also changed in recent years. In 2017/18, Moroccan exporters mainly focused on Mauritania, Ivory Coast and some other African countries. In addition, about a third of onion exports were destined for the Netherlands. At the moment, the Netherlands accounts for only 6% of the total onion export from Morocco. Meanwhile, the share of Senegal, Mauritania and Mali has grown significantly, reaching 16%, 26% and 28% respectively. In addition, Morocco is now the largest exporter of onions to Mali and ranks second among onion suppliers in Senegal and Mauritania. The onion export from Morocco is therefore currently focused on West Africa, or rather the western part of the African Sahel. EastFruit has previously reported that the Sahel countries have been forced to increase ...

Source: AGF