W8 Melon and Watermelon Update: Morocco's Melon Exports Surged by 25% in 2023, Declining Volumes in Rio Grande do Norte/Ceará in Jan-24, and Brazil's Melon Export Increased by 14% YoY in the 2023/24 season

Published Feb 29, 2024

In W8 in the watermelon and melon landscape, Brazil's melon exports for the 2023/24 season saw a 14% YoY increase in revenue and a 5% YoY increase in volume. However, export volumes are declining in regions like Rio Grande do Norte/Ceará due to shipments from Central American nations like Costa Rica. The Rio Grande do Norte melon export season saw a 10% increase in value, with watermelon exports experiencing an 8.9% YoY growth. Despite the drought, Sonora, Mexico's top producer, led watermelon production, with 373 thousand tons produced from Jan-23 to Nov-23. Lastly, Morocco's melon exports experienced a 25% YoY increase in 2023, with France being the dominant destination.

Brazil's Melon Export Revenue Surged by 14% in the 2023/24 Season

Brazil's melon exports for the 2023/24 season have seen a 14% year-over-year (YoY) increase in revenue to USD 142 million and a 5% YoY increase in volume to 167 thousand tons. However, as the season nears its end in regions like Rio Grande do Norte/Ceará, export volumes are declining due to shipments from Central American nations like Costa Rica, which are vying for a share of the European market.

Rio Grande do Norte Melon Export Season Sees Growth Despite Decline in Jan-24

The Rio Grande do Norte melon export season from Aug-23 to Jan-24 has seen a 10% increase in value, with watermelon exports experiencing an 8.9% YoY growth. However, the export figures in Jan-24 showed a 6.8% YoY decline and a 17% month-on-month (MoM) drop, with key exports including fuel oils, melons, watermelons, cotton fabrics, and sugar. The export figures for Jan-23 were USD 70.8 million, with no sugar exports recorded.

Sonora Leads Mexican Watermelon Production Despite Drought

One of the 27 states in the Mexican Republic that grow watermelon, Sonora remains the top producer despite a lack of rain in 2023. The state produced 373 thousand tons from Jan-23 to Nov-23, followed by Chihuahua, Jalisco, and Veracruz. Mexico remains among the top 10 production places globally, with a production of 1.19 million tons in 2023. The Yaqui and Guaymas Valley are crucial for this production. The primary consumers of watermelon are the United States (US), Japan, Canada, Belize, Cuba, Colombia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In 2022, 700 thousand tons were imported, worth USD 153 million.

Morocco's Melon Exports Surge by 25% Despite Climate Challenges in 2023

According to the recent report released in Feb-24, Morocco's melon exports experienced a 25% YoY increase in 2023 despite severe drought and other climatic challenges. Morocco exported nearly 57 thousand tons of melons from Jan-23 to Nov-23, a 25% YoY increase. The main drivers of the export growth were record-breaking supplies in May-23 and Jul-23, which contrasted with low sales abroad until May. France was the dominant destination for Moroccan melons, accounting for almost two-thirds of total exports. Spain was the second-largest market, with a record number of melons exported in 2022. Exports to other less important countries remained more stable, with Portugal, Mauritania, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom (UK) exporting smaller batches of melons.