Morocco has become a net importer of onions for the first time in years after poor harvests and storage constraints pushed imports to a record level, reversing the country’s traditional role as a supplier to West African markets.
Between July 2025 and April 2026, Morocco imported 21,600 metric tons of fresh onions worth $9.4 million, according to agricultural market intelligence platform EastFruit.
The volume was eight times higher than the previous season and more than double the previous record set in the 2015–2016 marketing year.
Imports accelerated sharply
The increase gathered pace toward the end of the season.
Imports exceeded 14,500 metric tons in April alone, compared with roughly 500 metric tons in January, highlighting the growing need to supplement domestic supplies.
The Netherlands accounted for more than 60% of Morocco’s onion imports, followed by Spain, which supplied nearly one-third of shipments, and France, with about 5%.
Exports fall behind imports
While imports surged, Morocco’s onion exports moved in the opposite direction.
Between January and April 2026, the country exported only 2,700 metric tons, nearly eight times less than it imported over the same period.
The shift transformed Morocco from a traditional onion exporter into a net importer during the season.
For years, Morocco had been an important supplier of onions to several West African markets.
Weather and storage challenges
EastFruit attributed the reversal primarily to unfavorable weather conditions that affected major onion-producing areas, including Tamehdit, Fès and Meknès, reducing both yields and crop quality.
The report also pointed to limited storage infrastructure.
Insufficient storage capacity prevented producers from building adequate reserves for the latter part of the marketing season, tightening domestic supplies as demand remained strong.
Imports therefore became necessary to stabilize the domestic market, with European suppliers filling much of the supply gap.
