Casablanca – Morocco is strengthening its position in the international blueberry market, with production and exports continuing to expand despite increasingly difficult weather conditions. Recent data from the International Blueberry Organization (IBO), Morocco Foodex and international trade sources point to a rapid transformation of Morocco into one of the leading blueberry suppliers, particularly to European markets. 

The country’s rise has been driven by expanding cultivated areas, improvements in productivity, investment in protected agriculture and growing demand for fresh fruit. At the same time, the 2025–2026 season has shown that the sector remains exposed to heavy rainfall, cold weather, strong winds and other climate-related disruptions. 

According to the latest IBO assessment, Morocco ranked among the world’s five largest blueberry producers in 2025, after overtaking several established producing countries. The organization reported Moroccan production of 84,940 tonnes during the year, while its broader analysis points to continued strong growth in both planted area and output. 

The IBO has identified Morocco as one of the fastest-growing blueberry origins in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region. Earlier IBO data indicated that Moroccan production had already reached around 71,700 tonnes of fresh blueberries in 2024, with yields of about 18,343 kilograms per hectare. The organization also estimated that nearly 95% of Morocco’s blueberry production was exported, underlining the sector’s strong international orientation. 

The scale of the expansion becomes clearer when compared with Morocco’s earlier export performance. In 2009, the country exported only around 636 tonnes of blueberries. By 2024, exports had climbed to approximately 83,000 tonnes, according to international data cited in recent reports. This represents an average annual increase of more than 43% over the period. 

Morocco has consequently moved rapidly up the global ranking of blueberry exporters. Data cited for 2024 placed Morocco among the four leading exporters, alongside Peru, Chile and Spain, with Moroccan shipments accounting for about 8% of global exports. Global blueberry exports were estimated at roughly 1 million tonnes that year, with a market value of $6.7 billion. 

More recent production data show that the expansion has continued. Morocco Foodex reported that Moroccan blueberry exports during the 2025–2026 agricultural season reached 102,141 tonnes. Fresh blueberries accounted for 92,510 tonnes, while processed products represented another 9,631 tonnes. The combined figure was 7% higher than the previous season. 

The difference between annual production and seasonal exports reflects the fact that the figures cover different periods and categories. Production estimates generally refer to output during a calendar or production year, while export statistics can cover a specific agricultural marketing season and include both fresh and processed products. 

Morocco’s geographical position remains one of the sector’s main advantages. Its proximity to European markets allows exporters to move fresh fruit relatively quickly compared with suppliers located farther from Europe. Spain, Germany and the United Kingdom are among the important destinations for Moroccan fresh produce, while the country has also been seeking to expand its presence in markets outside Europe. 

The IBO has previously identified Morocco as an increasingly important supplier during the winter and spring period. Its production calendar, which can extend from November through July, gives Moroccan exporters an opportunity to supply European consumers during periods when production from some competing origins is more limited. The organization has also pointed to growing Moroccan interest in markets in Asia and the Middle East. 

The expansion has been supported by investment in new varieties, protected cultivation, post-harvest handling and logistics. Producers are increasingly using improved genetics and cultivation technologies to raise yields and meet the quality requirements of major international buyers. 

However, the rapid growth has also exposed the sector to several risks. Weather conditions were particularly difficult during the 2025–2026 season. Morocco experienced heavy rainfall and unusually cold conditions from late 2025 into early 2026, particularly in northern production areas. In southern regions, strong winds damaged greenhouses, plastic coverings and other protected-cultivation infrastructure. 

The impact became particularly visible in early 2026. The IBO reported that storms affecting the Souss-Massa region in February caused significant damage to greenhouse structures. Some estimates suggested that blueberry volumes could decline by 15% to 25% by the ninth week of the season, with substantially larger losses in some individual locations. 

The organization had already warned in March that successive weather events had affected production. It noted that heavy rainfall, low temperatures and reduced sunlight had contributed to lower volumes and smaller fruit sizes in some areas. The situation demonstrated the sensitivity of intensive fruit production to sudden changes in weather. 

Despite these difficulties, Morocco maintained relatively strong export activity. According to the IBO, exports declined during February and March but subsequently recovered, with shipments exceeding typical levels in April and May. This suggests that the sector was able to partially compensate for early-season disruptions through production from different regions and later harvesting periods. 

Water availability represents another long-term issue. Blueberry cultivation requires reliable irrigation, while Morocco has faced persistent water shortages and prolonged periods of drought. The expansion of high-value fruit production therefore increasingly depends on efficient irrigation systems, water management and technologies that can maintain productivity under more restrictive conditions. 

Labor availability is also becoming an important consideration as production expands. The IBO has noted that the rapid growth of the Moroccan blueberry sector is increasing demand for seasonal workers, while growers in several producing regions are facing difficulties securing sufficient labor during peak harvesting periods. 

At the global level, Morocco is benefiting from a broader expansion of blueberry consumption and production. The IBO reported that worldwide blueberry production reached about 2.15 million tonnes in 2024, representing a 21% increase from the previous year. Fresh fruit accounted for 78% of global production, while the remaining 22% went to processing. 

Global production is expected to continue increasing over the coming years as new plantations enter commercial production and yields improve. The Americas remain a major production center, while Asia-Pacific is expanding rapidly, largely due to developments in China. The EMEA region is also expected to record substantial growth, with Morocco identified by the IBO as one of the main drivers. 

The organization expects Moroccan production to increase by close to 70% from an initial level of around 85,000 tonnes in the coming years. Such growth could further narrow the gap between Morocco and the countries currently occupying the higher positions in global production rankings. 

For Morocco, the challenge will be to maintain export growth while managing the risks associated with climate, water availability, labor and international competition. Expanding into new markets could also become increasingly important as production rises. 

The country’s established access to Europe provides a strong foundation, but diversification toward North America, Asia and the Middle East could reduce dependence on a limited number of destinations. The development of cold-chain infrastructure, packaging, sorting systems and post-harvest technologies will be important if exporters are to serve markets located farther from Morocco while maintaining fruit quality. 

The rapid development of blueberries also fits into the broader expansion of Morocco’s agricultural exports. Morocco Foodex reported that total agri-food exports reached $9.1 billion in 2025, up 38% from 2020, with export volumes reaching 4.7 million tonnes. The broader agricultural export sector accounted for nearly 18% of Morocco’s total merchandise exports. 

Blueberries represent only one component of this wider export system, but their rapid expansion illustrates the increasing importance of high-value fresh fruit in Morocco’s international trade. 

The sector’s performance in the next several seasons will depend on whether producers can combine continued expansion with greater resilience to weather shocks and water constraints. For now, the available data show that Morocco has moved from a relatively small blueberry producer to a significant global exporter in less than two decades, and international demand continues to provide room for further growth.