Casablanca – Morocco’s exports of fresh produce and frozen goods to Germany have soared to unprecedented heights in the first quarter of 2024, reports the agricultural data analysis platform EastFruit. The surge in exports, particularly in greenhouse tomatoes, peppers, frozen raspberries, and fresh blueberries, highlights a notable achievement for Moroccan agricultural trade.

According to EastFruit’s report, Morocco exported nearly 35,000 tons of fresh and frozen vegetables, fruits, and berries directly to the German market during the first three months of 2024. This marks a remarkable 40% increase compared to the same period last year and represents double the average volume recorded over the past five years.

The platform emphasizes that Morocco’s actual impact on the German market could be even more substantial. A significant portion of Moroccan exports is rerouted through Spain or France before reaching Germany, often being categorized as Spanish or French exports in official statistics.

Direct shipments of Moroccan greenhouse tomatoes to Germany nearly doubled during the January-March period of 2024, reaching 13,000 tons. Additionally, pepper exports increased by one-third, totaling 8,000 tons, reflecting the robust demand for Moroccan produce in the German market.

The surge in exports can be attributed in part to challenges faced by the greenhouse sector in the EU, particularly rising energy costs, which have led to increased competitiveness for suppliers from southern countries like Morocco and Turkey.

Morocco’s exports of frozen raspberries to Germany witnessed a remarkable growth, with figures for January-March 2024 reaching 1.7 thousand tons, quadrupling the quantity from the previous year. The surge in demand was fueled by a shortage of frozen raspberries in the German market during the first quarter, resulting in a substantial increase in prices.

Despite stable supplies of fresh Moroccan raspberries, approximately 2.4 thousand tons, direct exports of fresh blueberries experienced significant growth, reaching 1.2 thousand tons. Moreover, sales of fresh strawberries doubled, totaling 560 tons, highlighting the diversified and expanding portfolio of Moroccan agricultural exports to Germany.

The surge in Moroccan fruit and vegetable exports underscores the country’s growing importance as a key supplier in the European market, with its high-quality produce gaining traction among German consumers. As Morocco continues to enhance its agricultural capabilities and strengthen trade relations with European partners, further growth opportunities are anticipated in the coming years.