Data Module 067 — Agricultural & Trade Intelligence
The Olive Oil
Economy
1.2 million hectares. Half a million families. One dominant cultivar. From Phoenician roots to US tariff advantage — Morocco’s green gold mapped across six regions, four varieties, and the arithmetic of drought and recovery.
001 — The Olive Belt
Six Producing Regions
Marker size reflects relative production volume. Click to explore each region’s terroir, mill infrastructure, and flavour profile.
002 — Terroir
Every Region, a Different Oil
Fès-Meknès
Fruity, mild, balanced. Green fruitiness, almond notes.
Morocco's "olive oil capital." Largest volumes. Fruity, mild oils. Home to Volubilis — Roman-era oil presses still visible. Saïss Plains ideal conditions. ~1,000 new continuous-system mills created here. Picholine Marocaine dominant (70%).
Marrakech-Safi
Full-bodied, herbaceous. Atlantic influence.
223,600 ha — 20% of national olive area. 487,000 tonnes production (24% of national). Organic farms blending tradition and innovation. Zaouia Cooperative reports strong 2025 season. Home to INRA's Menara experimental station (est. 1927).
Béni Mellal-Khénifra
Distinctive, fruity. High polyphenol. Peppery finish.
Middle Atlas foothills. Jurassic-era valleys with mineral-rich soils. Naturally high polyphenol levels. In good years, 22–24 litres oil per quintal. Home to Morocco Gold estate (2,000 ft elevation). Sanhaja Berber olive tradition spanning millennia.
Tangier-Tétouan-Al Hoceima
Herbaceous, green, fresh. Rif mountain character.
Northern Morocco. 150+ modern crushing units. Ouezzane province: 70 modern + 306 traditional mills. Picholine Marocaine 70%, Haouzia + Menara ~20%. Herbaceous, green oils. Small-scale artisan production. Organic Rif mountain farms.
Oriental (Taourirt / Oujda)
Robust, concentrated. Arid-climate intensity.
Eastern Morocco. Drier conditions produce concentrated flavours. Growing region with investment from Green Morocco Plan. Traditional Picholine groves.
Souss-Massa (Taroudant)
Light, golden. Ideal for export markets.
Southern region. Lighter, golden oils ideal for international markets. Arid conditions stress trees, concentrating flavour compounds. Growing export focus.
003 — The Cultivars
Six Varieties
Picholine Marocaine
Use: Dual (oil + table) · Oil content: 16–22%
Morocco's national olive. 96% of planted trees. Cousin to Picholine Languedoc. Strong adaptation to Moroccan soil/climate. Green fruitiness, almond, herbs, peppery finish. High polyphenol count. Fruit weight 2.5–4g.
Haouzia
Use: Oil + table · Oil content: ~40% (dry matter)
Clonal selection from Picholine Marocaine by INRA. High productivity, golden aromatic oil. Adds fruitiness to blends. Rapid production start (3 years). 85% rhizogenic ability.
Menara
Use: Oil · Oil content: ~40% (dry matter)
INRA clonal selection. Light texture, mild nutty flavour. Contributes polyphenol depth and shelf stability to blends. Named after Marrakech's Menara gardens. 72% oleic acid.
Dahbia
Use: Oil · Oil content: High
INRA clonal selection. Distinctive phenolic composition — lifts aroma in blends. Unique D-Lig Agl profile. Less widely planted but valued by premium producers.
Arbequina
Use: Oil · Oil content: High
Spanish variety. High yields. Planted in modern high-density orchards (1,852 trees/ha vs 100/ha traditional). Taste declines over time. 84% of modern plantings at some estates.
Koroneiki
Use: Oil · Oil content: Very high
Greek variety. Minor contributor. Grown in some modern orchards. Known for very high polyphenol content globally.
Morocco is poised to swiftly reclaim, and even exceed, its record olive oil production levels.
— Ghizlane Tazi, General Manager, Noor Fès (Olive Oil Times, 2025)
004 — Harvest & Yield
Production Data
Six consecutive drought years collapsed output by 55%. The 2025 recovery — if realised — would represent the largest single-year rebound in Moroccan olive history.
| Season | Olive Harvest | Oil Output | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020/21 | ~1.96M tonnes | ~200,000 t | Record year. Favourable weather. |
| 2021/22 | ~1.5M tonnes | ~160,000 t | Good year. Green Morocco Plan investment bearing fruit. |
| 2022/23 | ~1.3M tonnes | ~130,000 t | Heatwaves begin. Drought year 4. |
| 2023/24 | ~1.07M tonnes | ~100,000 t | Continued drought. Prices rise sharply. |
| 2024/25 | 950,000 t | 90,000 t | 6th drought year. Deficit vs 140K domestic demand. Brazil import authorised (10K t). VAT exemption on 30K t imports. |
| 2025/26 | 2M t (projected) | 200,000 t (projected) | Record forecast. Rains returned. 60K exportable surplus. US tariff advantage (10% vs 15% EU). |
005 — Where It Goes
Export Markets
United States
1.2%World's largest olive oil importer ($3.3B market). Morocco exported 3,835 t / $38.4M in 2024 (1.2% share). New advantage: 10% tariff vs 15% on EU, 25% on Tunisia. Growth target.
European Union
Bulk + premiumTraditional export destination. Spain and Italy buy Moroccan bulk oil for blending. Growing premium direct sales. La Grande Épicerie (Paris) lists Moroccan single-estate oils.
Domestic
~70% of production140,000 t/year consumption. Oil is staple: cooking, medicine, cosmetics, hospitality symbol. Deficit in drought years (2024: 90K produced vs 140K consumed). Prices reached 130 MAD/litre Sep 2024.
Gulf States
EmergingGrowing demand for premium Moroccan EVOO. Cultural affinity. Halal certification straightforward.
Brazil
Import sourceUnusual reverse flow: Morocco authorised 10,000 t Brazilian olive oil import in 2024 to cover domestic shortfall.
US Tariff Advantage (2025)
10%
Morocco
Minimum duty
15%
Spain / Italy / Portugal
EU rate
25%
Tunisia
Highest
15%
Turkey
Competing
The interplay of Atlantic Ocean influence, Atlas Mountain elevation, and Saharan proximity concentrates flavour compounds in ways gentler climates cannot replicate.
— Hoji / Olive Oil Times
006 — Key Numbers
The Data
1,000 BCE
Phoenicians bring olives
Beginning millennia of tradition. Volubilis (near Meknes) preserves Roman-era oil presses.
65%
Of Morocco's tree cover
1.2M hectares. Olive is the dominant permanent crop. 55% of total arboreal area.
500,000+
Families dependent on olive
51 million working days/year. 20% of jobs held by women. Agriculture employs 40% of workforce.
96%
Picholine Marocaine dominance
One cultivar. INRA selections (Haouzia, Menara, Dahbia) and imports (Arbequina, Koroneiki) are growing.
$160M+
Olive oil exports (2023)
Rising year on year. US market growing fastest with tariff advantage.
0.1–0.3%
Acidity — premium producers
EVOO max is 0.8%. Morocco's best achieve ultra-low acidity. High polyphenols from climate stress.
Sources
Olive Oil Times (Sep 2025): 2M tonne harvest forecast, 200K oil target, Noor Fès quote, expanding plantations
Interprolive / Milling MEA (Sep 2025): Production doubling projection, Zaouia Cooperative report, US tariff advantage
African Agribusiness (Sep 2025): 60K exportable surplus, 140K domestic consumption, Trump tariff rates by country
Ecofin Agency: 3,835 t / $38.4M Morocco-US exports 2024, 1.2% of $3.3B US market
Milling MEA (Nov 2024): 950K harvest, 90K oil, 6-year drought, 30K t import authorisation, VAT exemption
Morocco Gold: 4th/5th global producer, 1.07M ha, 380K jobs, Green Morocco Plan, 80K ha MCA plantings, 150 cooperatives
ScienceDirect / FAOSTAT (2024): 6th global producer, 1,000 new continuous mills, Picholine/Haouzia/Menara phenolic profiles
Hoji / Olive Oil Times: Regional terroir (Fès-Meknès, Béni Mellal, Rif, Souss-Massa), PDO Tyout-Chiadma, Cooperative Al Amal NYIOOC Silver
International Olive Council (IOC): Volubilis Roman presses, Moroccan nuba classification, Al-Haik variety collections from 1927
Yac Shop (2024): Prices reached 130 MAD/litre, Brazil 10K t import, Haouzia/Menara varieties, 12–24 litres per quintal yield range
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Sources: IOC, FAO, Ministry of Agriculture Morocco