Morocco is poised to shatter its previous annual sweet pepper exports record in 2024, bolstered by a sharp uptick in demand across global markets, East Fruit reported on Wednesday.
With nearly 150,000 tons of sweet peppers shipped from January through August, the North African country has increased its export volume by 20% over the same period last year.
The country’s export momentum shows consistent month-by-month growth, with 2023 figures for Moroccan sweet pepper exports surpassing those of previous years nearly every month.
In addition to robust sweet pepper exports, Moroccan tomatoes—a mainstay in its fruit and vegetable sector—have also seen an upward trajectory this year.
European markets continue to absorb a substantial share of Morocco’s sweet pepper supply. Spain, France, Germany, and the Netherlands remain Morocco’s largest customers within the European Union, where they import sweet peppers both for direct consumption and for re-export to other European nations.
Outside the EU, the United Kingdom is a key growth market for Moroccan sweet peppers, with imports having increased fivefold since 2019.
Switzerland also ranks high among Morocco’s European export markets, importing 2.7 thousand tons of Moroccan sweet peppers in the first eight months of this year alone.
Although Morocco primarily exports sweet peppers to Europe, it has expanded into Sub-Saharan Africa as well. Countries like Mauritania, Senegal, Mali, and Gambia have seen growing imports of Moroccan sweet peppers, although these countries still account for a smaller slice of Morocco’s overall export share—typically ranging between 9% and 12% of annual exports.