Morocco Becomes the Go-To Market for Canary Bananas
In 2025, Morocco established itself as the leading destination for surplus bananas exported from the Canary Islands, receiving nearly 3.6 million kilograms of the fruit. This significant trade occurred primarily during periods of price drops in the domestic Spanish market, where the bulk of the bananas are typically sold. The Canary Islands have seen a heavy dependence on the mainland Spanish market, which accounted for an impressive 87% of the total marketed production, translating to approximately 329.1 million kilograms out of a grand total of 374.7 million kilograms produced. However, the export figures outside of Spain remained modest, not exceeding 5.2 million kilograms, of which around 1.6 million kilograms were sent to Europe, particularly Switzerland.
During periods of excess supply, especially in the summer months, Canary Island producers have increasingly looked to Morocco to offload their surplus stock, despite the associated lower profit margins. This strategic move has proven beneficial, alleviating pressure on the local market and ensuring that the excess bananas find a market, rather than going to waste. According to Spanish media reports, this annual practice has become a vital part of the business strategy for banana producers in the Canaries, enabling them to maintain operational viability even during challenging market conditions.
As reported by yabiladi.com.
