Moroccan exports increase by two thirds, putting the country on track to overtake Germany within increasingly competitive UK supply base
Morocco is gaining strength within the UK’s sweet pepper market, according to EastFruit, which expects the country to become the third largest export of sweet peppers to the UK after Spain and the Netherlands.
Between October 2025 and June 2026, the UK imported 10,400 tons of Moroccan sweet peppers valued at more than £17 million, Eastfruit stated, citing HM Revenue & Customs data. This represents a 60 per cent increase compared to 2024/25, and nearly triple the volume shipped in 2023/24.
Over the past three years, Moroccan exports to the UK have grown 5.8 fold, representing an annual growth rate of 80 per cent. In 2025/26, the largest monthly volume was recorded in February, when imports reached 1,800 tons, as Morocco’s share of total UK imports exceeded 9 per cent.
Currently, Germany holds third place in the UK market, but Morocco has narrowed the gap to less than 1,000 tons.
While Moroccan sweet peppers are a near year-round fixture in the UK market, with the main export window running from October through May, shipments typically peak during the winter months, aligning with the UK’s highest import demand.
Morocco’s ascent suggests the competitive landscape in the UK sweet pepper market is shifting in favour of more agile and fast-growing suppliers. While Moroccan shipments have risen, German volumes have remained stable for three years.
“If current momentum continues, Moroccan peppers could surpass German volumes as early as 2026/27, while France faces further erosion of its market share,” Eastfruit shared in a statement.
Morocco is also increasingly challenging Spain’s dominance in mandarins and berries in the UK market, reflecting the country’s growing presence across a wider range of categories.
