Exports: Moroccan Potato Regains Its Vibrancy

Morocco’s potato exports, declining since 2019, have finally begun to rebound. According to EastFruit analysts, the Kingdom exported 42,900 tons of table potatoes between July 2024 and May 2025, valued at $14.9 million. This marks a 5.7-fold increase compared to the entirety of the previous marketing year and is 1.5 times higher than the volume recorded during the 2022/23 marketing season.  

Morocco achieved a historic high in potato exports during the 2018/19 season, shipping nearly 100,000 tons of tubers to international markets, as noted in the report.  

Since then, export volumes declined almost annually, plummeting to a low of just 7,400 tons during the 2023/24 season. As a result, Morocco dropped from 28th place in the global potato exporter rankings in 2019 to 67th in 2023. Now, after five consecutive years of decline, Moroccan potato exports are showing renewed signs of growth in the current marketing year.  

Morocco’s potato exports exhibit strong seasonal patterns. The peak shipment period traditionally occurs between July and September, when export volumes are highest. Additional surges are typically observed from February to April.  

However, the report highlights that following the implementation of export restrictions to West Africa from March 2023 to February 2024, Morocco’s international shipments remained minimal until the ban was lifted and replaced with a quota system. Consequently, exports during the 2023/24 marketing year were primarily directed toward European markets.  

In the current marketing season, West African countries such as Mauritania and Mali have re-emerged as primary destinations for Moroccan potatoes, representing nearly half of total export volume. Spain remains a key external market, with steadily increasing shipments. A notable rise in exports to France, Portugal, Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal has also been observed. Conversely, shipments to the Netherlands, Burkina Faso, and Niger have declined sharply.