Morocco has set a new export record after shipping 1,200 tonnes of lemons to the United Kingdom over a ten-month period, a volume greater than all its shipments to the UK in the last decade combined. The exports, valued at just over $1 million, mark a forty-fold jump from the previous season and signal a major shift in the competitive balance of the UK citrus market.
According to market data cited by EastFruit, Morocco has vaulted from 31st to 11th place among the UK’s lemon suppliers in a matter of months. The previous national export record had remained unchallenged since the 2007/08 season, underscoring how dramatic this year’s surge has been. Analysts say the jump reflects Morocco’s push to deepen agricultural ties with Britain at a time when UK dependence on reliable foreign suppliers continues to grow.
The leap has also disrupted a market long dominated by Spain, South Africa and Brazil. Industry watchers note that while those countries still lead the sector, Morocco’s speed of growth is forcing buyers to diversify their sourcing strategies, particularly as British retailers seek consistent supply at competitive prices.
Morocco’s broader fruit exports to the UK have also been climbing steadily. The country has been the UK’s top raspberry supplier since 2023 and emerged as a leading blueberry source during the 2024/25 season. Shipments of strawberries, mandarins, watermelons and avocados have expanded as well, consolidating Morocco’s position as one of Britain’s most adaptive agricultural partners.
After several years of shrinking lemon output, producers in Morocco are regaining momentum. Export advisers warn, however, that maintaining quality and supply stability will be crucial if the country hopes to challenge the dominance of established Mediterranean and South American growers.
The UK’s 2024 Security of Supply report placed Morocco among its most significant produce partners, with Moroccan vegetables alone accounting for 7.5% of British imports in 2023. The latest lemon surge, analysts say, reinforces that trend and strengthens Morocco’s strategic role in the UK’s food security planning.
With demand rising and export records being rewritten, Morocco’s lemon breakthrough is being viewed as a sign of the country’s growing weight in global fruit trade and a message to traditional competitors that the landscape is shifting.
