馃嚥馃嚘MoroccoNorth Africa
Moroccan fresh strawberry exports decline for fourth consecutive season, industry shifts focus
via Le Matin2 min read
Moroccan fresh strawberry exports have continued their decline for the fourth consecutive season, with only 8,700 tonnes exported between October 2025 and April 2026, half the volume of the previous campaign. This trend suggests the 2025-2026 season will see the lowest export volume ever for this sector. Several factors contribute to this underperformance, including the rise of Egypt as a competitor offering more competitive prices, and severe water scarcity due to years of drought, impacting production conditions and increasing costs for desalination investments. A persistent labor shortage also affects the industry, as seasonal workers are drawn to higher wages in Spain or prefer raspberry and blueberry farms within Morocco. Adverse weather conditions, such as cold spells, humidity, and temperature variations, delayed fruit maturation, causing Moroccan exporters to miss peak European market periods. Floods in the Gharb and Loukkos regions in early 2026 further damaged infrastructure and crops. Consequently, exports to most major markets have fallen significantly, with shipments to France down over 80%, and to the UK and Spain decreasing by 44% and 54% respectively. Only Saudi Arabia showed an increase, but not enough to offset losses. This decline reflects a broader shift within Morocco's red fruit sector, with investors reorienting towards more profitable and adaptable crops like blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and avocados. Fresh strawberries maintain a position i
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Matin.
Morocco's National Electricity Regulatory Authority ANRE has chosen Deloitte Finance to provide technical assistance for a tariff reform, with a contract valued at 3.9 million dirhams. This initiative is crucial for the future of the Moroccan electricity sector, aiming for new tariffs to be implemented by March 1, 2027. The reform seeks to ensure the long-term viability of public electricity services through clear, predictable tariffs, incentivize economic efficiency by reflecting real costs, and create a stable framework to attract investors in electrical infrastructure. It also aims to harmonize tariff approaches and identify mechanisms to leverage network flexibility and energy storage systems. Deloitte Finance will review methodologies and levels for five components of the national tariff system, including the National Electricity Transmission Network Use Tariff TURT and the remuneration of system services TSS. The mission will span ten months, divided into four phases: a one-month framing phase, a two-month diagnostic phase, a four-month phase for defining methodological approaches, and a three-month final phase for tariff calculation. This tariff reform is part of a broader vision for ANRE to become a regulatory authority for the entire energy sector, including natural gas and hydrogen, with the new electricity tariff system serving as a methodological and regulatory reference for other energy sectors.
Kuwait's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced its solidarity with Morocco following an operation by the Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations BCIJ. This operation successfully thwarted terrorist plots attributed to extremists supported by the Sahel branch of the "Daech" organization. Kuwait condemned these plots, which aimed to undermine the security, stability, and safety of citizens and residents in the Kingdom. The Kuwaiti diplomacy reaffirmed its support for all measures taken by Moroccan authorities to protect the country's security, sovereignty, and stability.
The International Finance Corporation IFC has approved and signed a $15 million senior loan with the Arrawaj Foundation for Inclusive Finance, Morocco's third-largest microcredit association. This financing, awaiting disbursement, has a maximum maturity of five years with a one-year grace period and can be denominated in US dollars, euros, or Moroccan dirham equivalent. Funded through the IFC's MSME Finance platform, the loan will be exclusively used to provide credit to micro and small enterprises across Morocco. The IFC's strategy prioritizes very small enterprises and women entrepreneurs, aiming to help Arrawaj expand its reach in these segments, particularly given the regulatory changes and the significant barriers women face in accessing finance. The IFC's involvement offers two key benefits: risk management, by diversifying Arrawaj's funding sources, and knowledge transfer, through a technical assistance program covering product development, risk management, internal skills, and strategic planning. This program is designed to prepare Arrawaj for its expansion into the very small enterprise segment and adaptation to the new regulatory framework. Beyond its direct impact on Arrawaj and its clients, the IFC anticipates positive effects on the broader Moroccan microfinance sector, including enhanced market discipline, a wider range of financial products, and improved overall sector efficiency. Founded in 1996 as "Fondep," Arrawaj is a leading microfinance institution in Mor