Fresh Plaza
In the 2012-2013 Moroccan citrus season 440,000 tonnes of citrus were exported. This is a decrease of 20% compared to the previous season, when 478,000 tonnes were sent away. It is the weakest season ever for the Moroccan citrus. Yet the demand from foreign market was large. This meant that around 30,000 tonnes more was exported than first expected.
The citrus production decreased in all Mediterranean countries last season, but in Morocco the decrease in production was worsened by quality problems, caused by a strong variation between warm and cold periods. During the sorting, 30 to 40% of the production had to be declined.
The total citrus production was 1.5 million tonnes, against 1.86 million tonnes in 2011-2012. The production of small citrus, which represents over 80% of the citrus production, was 660,000 tonnes. Of this, 300,000 tonnes were exported. The clementine variety makes up 90% of the small citrus, of which export has decreased by 2%. Over 140,000 tonnes of oranges have been exported. This is 17% of the total citrus production. The export of oranges has decreased by 57%.
The results of the decrease in sales are mainly having an effect in the Souss region, the most important export region for the clementine. The decrease in sales was -33%. The Oriental region, on the other hand, which has not suffered from bad weather conditions, has seen its export of small citrus increase from 23,400 to 43,200 tonnes.
The sales on the home market are going well. The sales price for the clementine is 0.27 €/kg on average and 0.14 to 0.18 €/kg for oranges.
Publication date: 3/5/2013
