Brussels, 22/05/2014 (Agence Europe) - Morocco has expressed concern at the drop in its exports of citrus fruit, particularly to the Community market. This is principally due to the fall in demand on the traditional markets: professional associations are currently observing “a loss of market share in Europe, increasing payment times and price erosion, both export and on the local market”.
Already, in 2013, the Moroccan association of citrus producers (ASPAM) noted that, “due to the crisis, demand has fallen both in Europe and in North America”. According to explanations given to the daily newspaper La vie économique, however, Russia is “the main outlet, with 50% of the exported volume”, whilst “North America absorbed between 10 and 15% and the European Union 30%”.
The crisis facing citrus exports has “the merit of bringing all stakeholders together around an action plan”, announced Ahmed Darrab, Secretary General of ASPAM, quoted in this week's L'Economiste. The approach will be to restructure production, increasingly respond to internal needs and diversify - in terms of quality and of destination for export flows - particularly by encouraging the organic sector. (FB)