Moroccan berry exports drop 28% due to Egyptian competition and bad weather

Morocco’s exports of fresh and processed berries totalled 157,616 tons in the first four months of 2023 compared to 218,904 in the same period last year, representing a 28% drop, due to competition from the Egyptian market and adverse weather.

The president of the Association of Berry Producers, Amine Bennani, was pessimistic regarding the situation of the international market due to the tough competition from Egyptian berry exports, especially frozen ones (exported between March and October) and also the “instability” of the European market, the main destination for these products.

The berries that suffered the greatest drop in exports were blueberries and strawberries, with falls of 79% and 62%, respectively.

According to Bennani, the production of these fruits was also slightly affected this year by adverse weather, such as high temperatures in October that accelerated the flowering process.

According to figures from last year, the European Union accounts for 79% of Moroccan berry exports (the main client was Spain with 20.4%, followed by the Netherlands with 19.1%). Around 75% of the berries in Morocco are produced in the Gharb region (between Kenitra and Larache) and the rest in the southern area of Souss-Massa, with 90% of the inputs for the cultivation of these fruits coming from Spain.