The appetite for imported apples in Morocco is reaching new heights. In the first ten months of 2024 alone, the country imported a staggering 9.3 thousand tons of apples, valued at over $65 million (653 million Moroccan dirhams). This marks a record high since 2011, according to data from EastFruit. Over the past five years, Morocco's apple imports have generally seen an upward trend, with 2023 being the notable exception when import volumes declined. Compared to 2020, the 2024 imports represent a nearly 50% increase, EastFruit reports. Despite the surge in imports, Morocco is no stranger to apple cultivation. The country is a prominent apple producer, with varieties not typically associated with Africa. In 2022, Morocco was the continent's second-largest apple producer, trailing only South Africa. The boost in apple imports typically occurs during spring and summer, coinciding with a scarcity of the previous year's local harvest, the report notes. Among the imported varieties, Moroccans have shown a preference for «Gala Royal», «Golden Delicious», «Fuji», «Golden Smoothie», «Ozark Gold», «Anna», and «Starking Delicious», among others. However, local apple varieties still hold a significant share of the market. Most of Morocco's imported apples hail from European nations, with Italy leading the pack. From January to October 2024, Italy accounted for 46% of Morocco's apple imports. Following Italy, Spain supplied 27%, while Poland contributed 13%. Notably, Italy and Spain have ramped up their apple exports to Morocco, whereas imports from Poland and Portugal have decreased. In total, 13 countries exported apples to Morocco in 2024.
