Carob in Morocco and North Africa
Morocco is the largest producer of carob in North Africa and one of the major players in the world carob seed trade. Most of the production in the country comes from forest areas; most of the kernels are exported to Europe unprocessed. In Algeria and Tunisia, production is more limited and has declined in the long term.
In this article, we discuss the production, export, and social and economic importance of carob in North Africa in the light of FAO's 2025 report on Morocco, FAOSTAT data, and scientific reviews.
The Place of Carob in North Africa
The carob tree spreads naturally on both the north and south coasts of the Mediterranean basin. Scientific sources count Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt among producers in North Africa; however, commercial-scale production is mainly concentrated in Morocco. A review published in the Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science in 2025 identifies Morocco as the largest producer in the region and states that carob in the country is mainly grown in traditional agro-forestry systems in the Rif and Atlas mountains.
The same review emphasizes that carob is grown in semi-arid areas in Algeria and Tunisia, and that the tree contributes to local economies and is used in land rehabilitation by taking advantage of its poor soil and low water resistance. The comprehensive species assessment in the Journal of Ecology also highlights carob's high tolerance to drought and salinity, its ability to reshoot strongly after a fire, and its ability to limit the spread of fire. These characteristics make carob not only a source of income but also a means of soil and forest conservation in arid and semi-arid North African ecosystems.
Morocco: Raw Material from the Jungle
Production size
The Moroccan carob certificate, published by FAO in 2025 as part of the "One Country One Product" (OCOP) initiative, states that the country produces 40-60 thousand tons of carob annually. According to the document, most of the production comes from forest areas managed by the Moroccan Water and Forestry Agency (ANEF), which amount to approximately 71 thousand hectares. Privately owned areas are approximately 28 thousand hectares; in these areas, there are small producers working with traditional methods on the one hand, and large producers working with grafted trees and modern practices on the other.
In the FAOSTAT database, Morocco's production appears as approximately 22.7 thousand tons for 2024. However, this value is published with the "I" flag, as it has been for many years, that is, as an estimate, not an official measurement. In different compilations, values of around 22 thousand tons per year for Morocco are based on this forecast series. The range in FAO's field-based OCOP document is approximately twice that. This difference suggests that the product collected from the forest is not fully reflected in the statistics.
Production regions
Scientific sources list the Atlas Mountains, Beni Mellal, Essaouira, and the Rif mountains as the main carob regions in Morocco. In these regions, carob grows largely as part of traditional agricultural-forestry systems.
Processing Structure: A Core-Centric Value Chain
The most distinctive feature of the carob economy in Morocco is that the value chain is shaped around the core. According to the FAO document, the main processing activity in the country is seed crushing; about 15 enterprises with a total capacity of more than 80 thousand tons carry out this business. In the document, processors are divided into the following groups:
- Core crushing (separation) plants
- Gum and germ flour manufacturers
- Fruit meat flour manufacturers
- Animal feed processors
- Small cooperative units
The document emphasizes that syrup, molasses, flour and vinegar are produced in the country, but this remains on a limited scale. The scientific review, which states that products such as carob flour, natural sweeteners and syrup are traditionally prepared in Morocco, also states that syrup is an important source of energy in rural areas.
The reason why this structure is nucleated is simple: carob gum (E410), the most valuable product of carob, is derived from the endosperm part of the kernel. A comprehensive 2023 review examining carob seed components details that the kernel consists of the shell, endosperm, and embryo, with the endosperm being the largest section, and carob gum being used as a thickener and stabilizer in the food industry.
Morocco's Carob Exports
FAO's OCOP document paints the following picture of Morocco's carob exports:
| Product | Annual exports (FAO, 2025) |
|---|---|
| Carob seeds | About 13 thousand tons, about 100 million US dollars; mainly to Europe |
| Carob gamut | Average 825 tons, about 23 million US dollars |
| Fruit flesh flour | Its value has not been precisely estimated |
These figures reveal an important fact: Most of Morocco's export income from carob comes from the kernel, and most of the kernels are exported raw without processing. The FAO document interprets this situation as the value chain is "not adequately evaluated"; because the production of high value-added products such as gum is largely carried out in factories outside the country, especially in Europe. According to the document, Morocco carob; It serves six main markets: export markets for kernel, gum and fruit flesh flour, and domestic market for embryo flour, processed products and fresh fruit.
FAOSTAT's foreign trade data also shows an export of approximately 4,296 tons of "Locust beans (carobs)" for Morocco in 2024; this value is marked as an externally sourced figure in FAOSTAT. Since this item is monitored separately from bean and gum exports, it should not be directly compared with the figures in the FAO document. The market analysis published by IndexBox in 2020 showed Morocco as the world's largest carob exporter with approximately 20 thousand tons for 2018. These differences between sources once again show that it is necessary to pay attention to which product is counted in which item in the carob trade.
Social and Economic Significance
In Morocco, carob is an important source of additional income for many families in rural areas. The fact that most of the product comes from the forest directly links carob to forest management. The FAO document conveys a remarkable practice in this regard: In cooperative-based forest management, carob fruit is given to cooperatives under preferential conditions; on the other hand, cooperatives undertake forest protection activities such as grafting, surveillance and afforestation.
This model establishes a structure in which the economic value of carob is linked to the conservation of the forest. The tree's resistance to drought, its contribution to combating erosion and its ability to grow in arid soils make it a strategic species for regions affected by climate change.
However, the FAO document also lists the main problems facing the sector:
- Lack of officially registered selected varieties
- Limited knowledge of propagation, irrigation and pollination
- Selling products with low added value
- Weak research and innovation
- Inadequacy of product promotion
The document recommends establishing a traceability and control system along the value chain. This recommendation also aligns with the growing traceability expectation of international buyers.
Algeria and Tunisia
Carob production in Algeria has declined significantly in the long term. According to the review published in the Turkish Journal of Botany, Algeria's production in FAO data decreased from 24 thousand tons in 1961 to 3,219 tons in 2021; this means a decrease of approximately 86 percent. FAOSTAT contains estimated values of approximately 3.4 thousand tons for Algeria in 2022-2024. In a paper by Algerian researchers, it is emphasized that carob is widely grown in the Mediterranean, but not enough in Algeria.
Interestingly, Algeria appears as both an exporter and an importer in carob foreign trade. According to FAOSTAT data, Algeria imported approximately 4,600 tons of carob in 2022 and exported approximately 1,901 tons in 2023. These figures should be read with caution as they are marked as externally sourced or estimated values in FAOSTAT.
In Tunisia, according to FAOSTAT's estimated values, production is around 800 tons per year. There is also an export record of approximately 866 tons for 2024. Egypt, on the other hand, stands out with imports rather than production; According to FAOSTAT, it imported approximately 2,497 tons of carob in 2023 and approximately 2,482 tons in 2024.
Comparison of North Africa and Turkey
North Africa and Turkey offer two different models of carob:
| Feature | Morocco | Turkey |
|---|---|---|
| Source of production | Predominantly forest areas | Gardens and natural trees in coastal areas |
| Official statistics | Estimated value in FAOSTAT | Official value from TurkStat |
| Featured export product | Raw core | Different types of carob products |
| Featured product in the domestic market | Embryo flour, syrup, fresh fruit | Molasses and traditional products |
The common goal for both regions is the same: to transform carob into processed and high value-added products instead of selling it as a raw material. FAO's assessment of Morocco is a valid warning for Turkey in this regard.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much carob does Morocco produce? According to FAO's document dated 2025, 40–60 thousand tons per year. The estimated value in FAOSTAT is approximately 22–23 thousand tons.
How does Morocco evaluate carob? The main activity is seed crushing. Most of the beans are exported unprocessed, mainly to Europe; the production of gum, flour, syrup and molasses is more limited.
Why has carob production decreased in Algeria? Sources cite the aging of groves, the absence of renewal programs and the scarcity of new plantings as the main reasons for the decline across the Mediterranean. Production in Algeria declined by about 86 percent from 1961 to 2021.
Why is carob important in North Africa? It is an additional source of income for rural families; thanks to its drought resistance, it is also valuable in forest conservation and land rehabilitation.
Carob Products with Carob Türkiye
The North African example shows that most of the added value in carob occurs in processed products and especially in ingredients derived from the kernel. As Carob Türkiye Carob seeds We supply carob fruit, crumbs, flour/powder and extract, especially For more information about the structure and uses of the kernel What is Carob Seed? You can read our article, for your wholesale and export requests. Contact Now You can contact us on our page.
Domestic resources
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org/ 10. 55730/ 1300- 008X. 2748 Foreign sources
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