Canary Islands Strengthen Banana Exports to Morocco
The Canary Islands have established a robust trading relationship with Morocco, particularly in the banana export sector. This partnership has become increasingly significant in light of fluctuating market conditions that have led to a surplus of bananas on the islands, especially when prices in the local markets dip to critically low levels. In recent years, Moroccan markets have played a vital role as an outlet for surplus bananas, allowing producers to mitigate losses that arise from steep discounts and unprofitable sales. This situation often occurs during the summer months when the harvest yields are high, and consumer demand wanes, necessitating an urgent solution to prevent waste and financial loss for local farmers.
In 2025, the Canary Islands exported a remarkable 3.6 million kilos of bananas to Morocco, which accounted for an impressive 70% of the total bananas that were sold outside of Spain. The majority of these exports are driven by the need to manage excess supply during periods of low prices. As reported, the primary destination for the Canary banana exports in Europe is Switzerland, which received 1.1 million kilos, while the remaining exports were directed towards Morocco.
The complexities of this export flow can be attributed to the fact that the bananas sent to Morocco are often those that have been withdrawn from the main markets due to unfavorable pricing. This process can be viewed as a strategic maneuver to offload surplus bananas that the domestic market cannot absorb, particularly during peak harvesting seasons. In the past year, the total marketed production of bananas from the Canary Islands reached only 374.7 million kilos, marking the lowest figure since at least 2015. Despite the overall decline in production, Morocco has emerged as a critical ally for the Canarian banana sector, facilitating the export of excess produce during challenging economic periods.
Industry sources indicate that while the partnership with Morocco has been beneficial, it is not necessarily driven by high profitability for the island's farmers. Instead, it serves as a necessary escape route for bananas that might otherwise lead to significant losses. As the agricultural community grapples with these economic challenges, the focus remains on maintaining this vital export channel to ensure the sustainability of banana production in the Canary Islands.
As reported by eldiario.es.
