Morocco Leads the Way in Eggplant Exports to Spain, Surpassing France
Morocco has made a significant breakthrough in the European market by overtaking France as the top supplier of eggplants to Spain in 2024, signaling a shift in the agricultural power dynamics of the Mediterranean region.
A report from the Spanish specialized site “Horto Info” indicated that Morocco has become the leading supplier of eggplants to the Spanish market, a position France held for consecutive years. This change underscores the new dynamics within the Moroccan agricultural sector and its remarkable improvement in export capabilities.
In 2024, Spain’s eggplant exports reached a total of 189.83 million kilograms, marking an increase of 7.29% compared to 2023, when 176.93 million kilograms were exported. The value of these exports was estimated at around 3.07 billion dirhams, compared to 2.41 billion dirhams last year, based on an average exchange rate of 10.85 dirhams to the euro. Meanwhile, the average price per kilogram remained roughly the same at 13.67 dirhams.
In terms of importing markets, France retained its status as the largest importer of Spanish zucchini, accounting for 28.08% of total exports, while Germany ranked second for eggplant, purchasing 47.09 million kilograms, reflecting an increase of 11.57%, followed by Italy, which experienced a slight decline of 3.5%.
The report noted an 8.1% rise in Spain’s eggplant imports from other countries, reaching 1.66 million kilograms in 2024, up from 1.53 million kilograms in 2023. This increase is likely attributed to Morocco’s pivotal role, enabling it to surpass France as a major supplier.
The report suggests that this shift in the supply landscape reflects growing confidence from European markets in the quality and safety of Moroccan products, alongside significant improvements in production, storage, and distribution chains, which enhance the competitiveness of Moroccan agriculture in highly open and competitive international markets.
