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Moroccan olive oil exports to European Union markets achieved an unprecedented and qualitative leap during the current 2025–2026 agricultural season. According to official data released by the European Commission in its latest report on the olive oil and olives market situation, EU imports of the Moroccan product recorded a spectacular growth of 712.6% during the period from October 2025 to the end of March 2026. Imported volumes soared to 10,312 tonnes, compared to just 1,269 tonnes during the same period of the previous agricultural season.
In the same context, figures from the "Data Comex" trade database of the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Business revealed that Spain was the primary destination for these shipments. Spain alone absorbed 6,502 tonnes by the end of March 2026, representing approximately 63.06%—nearly two-thirds—of total EU imports of Moroccan olive oil. Updated data through the end of April 2026 demonstrates the continuation of this robust demand, bringing Spain's cumulative imports of Moroccan olive oil since the start of the season to 11,814 tonnes. This was driven by a sharp acceleration in purchases during March and April, reaching 3,538 tonnes and 3,882 tonnes, respectively. Furthermore, Spanish purchases from January to April grew by 421.98% compared to the corresponding period last year.
This powerful export revival is primarily attributed to the recovery of the olive sector in the Kingdom of Morocco after consecutive seasons of drought that severely impacted crop yields, along with new plantations and agricultural estates entering their active production phase. The Moroccan Interprofessional Olive Federation had anticipated last September that the Kingdom's production would more than double, reaching about 200,000 tonnes for the 2025–2026 season compared to 90,000 tonnes in the previous season. According to the European report, Morocco's actual production neared 160,000 tonnes between October and March, ranking the country seventh globally among top producers, behind Spain, Tunisia, Italy, Greece, Turkey, and Portugal.
On the other hand, this influx has triggered concerns among some domestic producers within Spain, who pointed out that the increased supply from non-EU countries contributed to downward pressure on olive oil producer prices domestically. Although Tunisia remains the leading non-EU supplier to the European Union with an 81% market share, Morocco recorded the highest export growth rate among all suppliers. This comes at a time when exports from other traditional producers, such as Argentina, Chile, Turkey, and Syria, experienced a noticeable decline toward the European market.
Source: Assahifa Newspaper (Based on European Commission reports and Spain's Data Comex
