Rabat – Morocco has made a profit of $2.3 million in the 2022-2023 season from Portuguese imports of Moroccan cucumber produce.
Agriculture-focused website EastFruit said that the 2022-2023 season marked the “first time that cucumbers from Morocco were imported into Portugal almost year-round.”
The news outlet attributed the situation to the severe drought that affected Europe, leading to an increased demand for cucumber produce from abroad.
The report added that cucumber exports to Portugal have grown by a “staggering 17 times” over the past four years.
The report explained that this situation is a first for Portugal as local productions were able to meet domestic demand prior to this year.
Last year’s drought, however, changed the situation as the country introduced measures to tackle water management, including irrigation restrictions.
Water shortages forced the country to increase cucumber imports. Spain and Morocco were the largest exporters.
Spain accounts for “two-thirds of all shipments” compared to Morocco, which accounted for one-fourth, the report added.
According to EastFruit, Morocco exports cucumbers to 32 countries. The total sales volume reached 21,400 tonnes, with a $19 million revenue.
Around 9,900 tonnes – or half of Morocco’s total exports of cucumbers — are directed to Spain.
Source : Morocco World News
