Morocco has started importing olive oil from Spain to compensate for the severe shortage in the local market amidst the significant price hike of this essential product for Moroccan households.
Informed sources within the agricultural sector indicate that several Moroccan cooperatives have begun importing Spanish oil after obtaining the necessary licenses from the relevant authorities. These sources attributed the import move to the significant decline in domestic production resulting from a drought that has plagued the country for almost six years. According to estimates, Morocco’s production this year is only 106,000 tons, with expectations of it halving in the next season.
The sources mentioned that Moroccan producers turned to import olive oil from Spain, being the largest producer in the Mediterranean region. Spain’s production is expected to reach 1.3 million tons this year, a 52% increase from last year’s 853,000 tons.
In a related context, Moroccan professionals might also consider Tunisia, which is expected to produce 325,000 tons this year, up from 200,000 tons in the previous season. Italy, however, does not appear to be a feasible option due to its own drought issues, with expected production dropping to 200,000 tons from 329,000 tons last season.
Moroccan authorities are also considering imports from Greece, expected to produce 250,000 tons in the upcoming season, up from 155,000 tons this season, as well as from Portugal, expected to produce 170,000 tons in the next season compared to 158,000 tons this year.
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