Moroccan citrus exports to decline due to rainfall shortage

The excessively hot weather of Morocco is expected to lead to a sharp drop in the volumes of citrus produced in the kingdom throughout the years, reports Fresh Fruit portal.

The main exporter of citrus is expected to decline by 15 to 20%, from 2.3 million tons last year to about 2 million tons, according to a statement issued by Agri Morocco.

For about four months, temperature in Morocco has been unusually high, creating drought conditions and reducing fruit size.

The eastern region and the Marrakech-Safi region would be the most affected by adverse weather conditions.

The citrus season in Morocco usually runs from October to mid-year.

According to a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) report released in December 2016, citrus production in Morocco during the previous season increased by 15%, so the decline this season should be comparable to the 2015-16 campaign.

In the same report, the USDA estimated that the production of oranges for the 2016-17 season would increase by 4% year-on-year to 962,250 tons while mandarin production would increase by 24% to 1%, 3 million tons.