Mali mango exports shift to Morocco after EU ban
Imports have grown by around 15% annually since 2020, with supply mainly sourced from Mali and Senegal.
MOROCCO – Malian mango exporters are increasingly turning to the Moroccan market after the European Union suspended imports due to persistent phytosanitary issues linked to fruit fly infestations.
Niama Djefaga, operations manager of SCS International, confirmed the strategic pivot: “We are relying entirely on the Moroccan market this season, along with the British market, to export our fruit.”
The shift follows the EU, which accounted for approximately 80% of Mali’s mango exports, valued at nearly US$11 million in 2024, suspending imports in September 2025.
During the last season, more than 63 shipments were intercepted at EU borders due to fruit fly contamination, prompting the ban. Imports have grown by around 15% annually since 2020, with supply mainly sourced from Mali and Senegal.
For regional food business stakeholders, this development highlights the evolving regulatory landscape and the critical importance of meeting international quality benchmarks.
Moroccan lawmakers and industry advocates have raised biosecurity concerns, warning that redirected fruit that fails to meet European standards could threaten Morocco’s citrus and fruit sectors.
MP Aicha El Kout warned that Malian exporters are redirecting fruit that fails to meet European standards to Morocco, adding that fruit flies remain a risk to local citrus production.
Additionally, Ali Chettour, president of the Moroccan Association for Consumer Rights Protection, stated that all imported and locally produced food is subject to ONSSA’s oversight to ensure compliance with health and safety standards.
For investors, the long-term risks to Morocco’s agricultural sector include the potential introduction of pests that could affect citrus exports, which are a cornerstone of Moroccan agriculture.
Rigorous health inspections and border controls will be essential to prevent these pests from establishing in Moroccan orchards.
The situation also presents opportunities to improve phytosanitary standards across West Africa, with potential for investment in pest management systems, cold chain infrastructure, and certification programmes that enable direct access to the EU rather than reliance on secondary markets.
As Malian mangoes are redirected to Morocco, the influx has surged dramatically, with imports reaching 2,500 tons in January and February 2025, approximately three times the volume recorded in the same period last year.
For Middle Eastern and African investors, the shift in the Mali-Morocco mango trade highlights the value of investing in phytosanitary compliance infrastructure to prevent such disruptions and maintain direct access to premium markets.
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