Lang
Morocco's imports of Spanish olive oil rose sharply by 57% during the first four months of the 2024-2025 crop year, placing the country 19th globally among the largest importers of olive oil from Spain, according to a recent report from Spain's Ministry of Agriculture.
The value of Morocco's imports of Spanish olive oil reached around €12.45 million between October 2024 and January 2025, reflecting a growing shift towards the Spanish market to meet domestic demand amid a decline in national production caused by climate change and reduced rainfall.
The data show that this increase reflects greater reliance on imports to cover rising needs, both for individual consumption and for the food processing industry.
This development points to clear shifts in Morocco's vegetable oils sector, both in terms of supply and prices, particularly given the volatility in the domestic market driven by seasonality and rising production costs.
In the same vein, Morocco's Foreign Exchange Office reported in its latest bulletin that the country's olive oil imports in January alone reached 111 million dirhams, an increase of more than 200% compared with January 2024, up from 32 million dirhams to 111 million dirhams — a rise of 79 million dirhams.
Despite this rise in imports, along with customs duty exemptions on imported olive oil, prices have not fallen significantly and remain notably high, with a litre of olive oil selling for between 110 and 130 dirhams. This has caused widespread discontent among consumers, particularly low-income households for whom olive oil is a staple part of their daily diet.
To help prevent further price increases and offset the significant shortfall in domestic production in recent years, the government announced a suspension of customs duties on imports of virgin and extra virgin olive oil.
In this context, Abdelali Zaz, a member of the executive board of the Moroccan Interprofessional Federation for Olives, said estimates indicate that this season's production will be below usual levels, which will affect the availability of oil in the market.
He noted in an earlier statement that what is currently available on the market comes from last season's production, while new stocks are expected to be limited, raising the likelihood that prices will continue to climb.
Although importing may appear to be a quick fix for the production shortfall and rising prices, some specialists believe it is not the most suitable solution, as it risks creating a permanent dependence on foreign markets, as has happened in other sectors.
Zaz concluded by stressing that Morocco has always been known as an olive oil-producing country, and that growing reliance on imports runs counter to the goals of the "Green Plan," which seeks to boost domestic production and achieve self-sufficiency in this vital commodity.