Morocco Struggles to Maintain Share, While Tunisia Sees Sustained Growth in Citrus Exports
Third-largest orange producer in Africa, behind Egypt and South Africa, Morocco is witnessing a decline in exports. Based on USDA data, they decreased from 117,000 in 2019/2020 to only 60,000 tonnes in 2024. To rectify the situation, the Moroccan government launched an export subsidy of 1,000 dirhams per tonne in April 2024, targeting the European Union, UK, and certain African countries. This support will span five agricultural campaigns, capping at 65,000 tonnes in 2024 and 125,000 tonnes in 2028.
Meanwhile, Tunisia is experiencing a significant rebound. During the 2024-2025, citrus exports increased in volume by 33% and 16.9% in value, reaching 33.8 million dinars, according to the National Observatory of Agriculture (Onagri). This performance is mainly driven by the "Maltese" variety, which alone accounts for over half of the exported volumes.
Another strong signal is that Libya has become a key market. In just one year, its share in citrus export revenues jumped from 5.3% to 40.8%. Onagri also mentions openings towards the United Arab Emirates and the United Arab Emirates, two destinations known for their quality requirements.
One question remains: does Tunisia have the means to one day figure among the world leaders?
