Green Med Journal
The performance of Morocco’s citruses should decrease of 25% this season (2012/2013) because of the really bad climate conditions. It was make known by the Minister of Agricolture of Morocco on Monday, 8th October 2012, underlining a common decrease of the production.
With 1.5 millions of tons, the decrease in the production of citruses of the North-African Country should be balanced out by export prices that will show a level like the one of last season, with a rising trend in December. The export campaign usually begins in October and ends in July of the following year.
The Minister declared that mandarins and oranges’ production should decrease of 24%and 27% each, reaching 675.000 and 763.000 tons. The production of grapefruit, lemons and pomelo should instead increase of 38% for a total of 62.000 tons.
Morocco is the third main African exporter of citruses, right after South Africa and Egypt. During last 2012/12 season, it has exported mainly towards Europe 550.000 tons of oranges and over 100.000 tons of orange juice.
In July, the American bureau for Agricolture (USDA) revealed a global citruses’ production decreasing of 7% compared to last year, for a total of 51.1 millions of tons.
Morocco aims to increase citruses’ exports until reaching 1.3 millions of tons by the end of2018, a volume that is half the total performance foreseen.
Source:af.reuters.com
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