Despite facing severe water stress and rising prices for fruits and vegetables, Morocco has maintained a strong position in the global agricultural export market. Recent data from East Fruit, a platform specializing in global fruit and vegetable market news, reveals that Morocco's agricultural exports are growing at an annual rate of 8%, placing the country fourth worldwide in relative growth of fruit and vegetable exports. According to East Fruit, Morocco's agricultural exports are increasing by approximately $0.6 billion annually. This growth rate positions Morocco behind Canada in the global ranking, with Egypt leading at 12% annual growth, followed by Peru. The platform notes that Morocco's growth could have been even faster if not for the severe water scarcity issues caused by rapid climate changes in recent seasons. East Fruit observed significant growth in Morocco's imports in the fresh produce sector over the past five years, particularly in Asia. The demographic composition and economy of this region are opening new opportunities for Moroccan exporters. This potential has prompted the organizers of the 2024 Asia Fruit Congress, held within the Asia Fruit Logistica in Hong Kong, to schedule a separate session on «New Supply Opportunities from Egypt and Morocco». Andrii Yarmak, responsible for fruit and vegetable export diversification efforts at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), stated that Morocco plays a crucial role in supplying large quantities of fresh blueberries to ASEAN markets. He added that Morocco is prepared to increase its export volumes and diversify its exported products.
