Moroccan Blueberries: A Small Fruit with Multi-Million Dollar Revenues Conquering Global Markets

ALDAR/

In recent years, Moroccan blueberries have become one of the most internationally sought-after agricultural products, recording a significant leap in both export volume and revenues, surpassing all expectations. This success once again proves that Moroccan agriculture is capable of competing with the world’s largest producers in strategic markets. In the first three months of 2025 alone, the value of Morocco’s blueberry exports to the United States exceeded 5 million dollars, a figure reflecting the growing momentum of this sector and its ability to effectively penetrate new markets.

This boom was not limited to the American market but also included distant markets such as Canada, where more than 900 tons were exported during the 2023-2024 season, alongside promising markets in Asia such as Japan, China, Hong Kong, and Malaysia, which recorded an increase exceeding threefold compared to 2019 figures. The Gulf Arab markets were also part of Morocco’s expansion map, with countries like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar receiving increasing quantities of high-quality Moroccan blueberries, totaling more than 1,800 tons.

Although the European market remains Morocco’s main customer in this sector, the share of some countries, like Spain, has gradually declined, while there has been a remarkable rise in demand from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, and France. In the 2023-2024 season, Morocco exported a total of 67,000 tons of blueberries, a 25% increase from the previous year, generating total revenues close to 315 million dollars. Production has quadrupled since 2018, making Morocco, in a short time, the world’s fourth largest exporter of blueberries, surpassing traditional leading countries such as the United States.

This success is attributed to several factors, most notably the diversification of export destinations, improvement in agricultural techniques, and exploitation of climatic opportunities allowing production in seasons that do not coincide with other countries, giving Morocco a clear competitive advantage. Investments in cold chain logistics, packaging, and marketing have also contributed to enhancing product quality and ensuring compliance with international standards, especially in the American and Asian markets that demand the highest levels of food safety and inspection.

Amid this dynamic growth, forecasts indicate that Moroccan blueberry production could exceed 80,000 tons in upcoming seasons, particularly with the inclusion of new production areas such as Dakhla and some mountainous regions, where modern techniques for sustainable irrigation and increased yield per hectare are being adopted. With global demand continuing to rise, Morocco is solidifying its position as a key player in the global blueberry market, which now brings the country millions of dollars and opens promising prospects for Moroccan agriculture in an era of climate change and global food security challenges.