Morocco breaks record with $1 million lemon exports to the UK

Morocco has exported 1,200 tonnes of lemons to the United Kingdom, worth over $1 million, breaking an existing 17-year record and marking a significant step in fruit trade between the two countries, as reported by Business Insider Africa on November 14th. 

This surge in lemon exports between November 2024 and August 2025 was around 40 times greater than the previous year. It also surpassed the 2007/ 2008 record, as the value of the exports reached around $1.02 million, a sharp increase from previous years when UK imports of Moroccan lemons were minimal.

Once 31st in the supplier rankings, Morocco is now at 11th place, overtaking Vietnam and Mexico.

According to an East Fruit report, this result pushes Morocco ahead in the UK lemon market, and this rapid rise is even more noticeable given Morocco’s limited role in the UK lemon exports in the last 10 years.

However, lemons are a small part of a bigger picture, as Morocco has already been one of the UK’s top suppliers of raspberries and blueberries since 2023, with an increase in exports of strawberries, mandarins, watermelons, and avocados. 

This momentum is not limited to the UK; Morocco has also signed a new agreement aimed at boosting agricultural exports to the EU.

Currently, the UK lemon market is dominated by Spain, South Africa, and Brazil, accounting for over 80% of the market, followed by the Netherlands and Germany for an additional 10%.

If Morocco continues expanding its lemon production and shipping capacity to the UK, the country could begin to challenge the dominant suppliers already in the market.

According to BI, the UK’s 2024 Security of Supply report, Moroccan vegetables accounted for 7.5% of British imports in 2023, strengthening agricultural trade between the two countries. This follows the UK’s wider push to grow economic ties with Morocco, following increased investment in the Kingdom’s minerals industry. 

By reaching record export levels, Morocco is emerging as a strategic player in the lemon market and potentially reshaping global fruit trade dynamics.

However, Morocco is just starting to get back on track after four years of declining lemon exports; therefore, it is essential to maintain fruit quality, a steady supply, and stay price-competitive against Mediterranean and South American suppliers.  

East Fruit, Business Insider Africa, Maghrebi.org