Amid Historic Drought, Morocco Exports Record Volume of Water-Thirsty Avocados to Canada

(3 Minutes Read)

While grappling with its worst drought in decades, Morocco has dramatically increased its export of avocados—a crop known for its high water consumption—to Canada. This surprising export surge comes at a time when the country is under growing scrutiny for its agricultural water use, given its dwindling freshwater resources.

According to data published by EastFruit, drawing from Statistics Canada and Global Trade Tracker, Morocco shipped a record-breaking 1,180 tons of avocados to Canada in the first 10 months of the 2024/25 marketing year, which runs from July through June. The total value of these exports reached approximately $3.7 million.

This volume marks a significant leap compared to previous years, when Moroccan avocado exports to Canada never surpassed 70 tons. The bulk of this season’s exports began in December 2024, reaching their highest levels in January and February 2025, with each of those months seeing over 400 tons shipped.

By January, Morocco had risen to become Canada’s second-largest avocado supplier, trailing only Mexico. In February and March, Morocco remained among the top three, competing closely with Colombia and Mexico.

Despite Morocco’s sharp growth in market share, Mexico continues to dominate avocado exports to Canada, accounting for more than 93% of total imports. However, Mexican producers faced a challenging season. Unusually heavy rainfall during the summer of 2024 caused significant damage to avocado crops, leading to an estimated 20% decline in production.

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This export boom by Morocco—especially during a time of acute water scarcity—has sparked broader conversations about the sustainability of cultivating and exporting water-intensive crops in drought-prone regions.