Page 37 - AA 2023 Year Book Website

Morocco

MOROCCO HAS OVERTAKEN THE US IN BLUEBERRY EXPORTS

TO BECOME THE WORLD’S FOURTH LARGEST EXPORTER

In 2022, Morocco became fourth account the volume of supplies of wild
among the largest exporters of fresh berries. Thus, out of 77 000 tonnes of
blueberries in the world, leaving behind exports of Vaccinium blueberries from
even the United States, where, in fact, Canada, only 18 800 tonnes were culti-
blueberries were cultivated, EastFruit vated blueberries. Meanwhile, exports
reports. of cultivated blueberries in the United
States amounted to 45 200 tonnes in
2022.
Recall that Morocco was the seventh
largest exporter of cultivated blueber- ries from Morocco to the countries of
ries in the world in 2017, losing to all the the Middle East and Southeast Asia has
countries mentioned above and to Ar- increased by 9.5 times, reaching 1 900
gentina. The annual blueberry exports tonnes.
from Morocco were 15 600 tonnes then,
that is, the country has increased them Until 2022, Russia was also an interest-
In total, exporters from Morocco ex- by more than three times over the past ing destination for Moroccan blueberry
ported 53 000 tonnes of fresh blueber- five years! exporters, but due to the invasion of
ries last year, and only three countries Initially, over 90% of Morocco’s ex- Ukraine and the subsequent sanctions
managed to exceed this volume. These ports went to Spain, which re-exported and economic downturn, Russia import-
were Peru (277 000 tonnes), Chile (105 Moroccan blueberries, lengthening its ed only 400 tonnes last year. For compar-
000 tonnes), and Spain (87 000 tonnes). sales season. ison, annual exports in 2020-2021 from
It should be noted that the exports from However, the share of Spain in Moroc- Morocco to the Russian market were 1
the Netherlands in 11 months of last year can exports has fallen to 36% from 2017 200-1 300 tonnes.
were higher than that of Morocco, having to 2022, and the largest part of exports Among the most unexpected destina-
amounted to 104 000 tonnes. However, if go now directly to blueberry-consuming tions for the export of Moroccan blue-
we take into account the volume of re-ex- countries. The main destination for sales berries, one can note trial deliveries of
ports, the real result of the Netherlands of blueberries from Morocco is the EU blueberries to the continent, which is
will be much lower since it imported 130 countries, as well as the UK and Norway. considered the birthplace of blueber-
000 tonnes of fresh blueberries during ries – to North America. In 2022, Canada
In addition to the EU market, Morocco
this period. in recent years has relied on the opening imported 100 tonnes of fresh blueber-
Exports of blueberries from Canada of markets outside Europe. Thus, since ries from Morocco, and 130 tonnes of
and the United States were also higher 2017, the total export of fresh blueber- Moroccan berries were supplied to the
US market in 2021.
than Moroccan, but only if we take into
OLIVE PRODUCTION IN MOROCCO TO INCREASE BY 21% IN 2022

Morocco’s olive production is predict- Commission for Planning (HCP) attrib- The strategy’s core objectives are to
ed to increase by 21% in 2022, compared uted Morocco’s economic recovery to a provide support to young people to in-
to the previous year. 19.3% increase in the agricultural added vest in 1 million hectares of arable lands,
In response to a question from the value and a rebound of 11.7% in non-ag- creating around 350,000 job opportuni-
House of Councillors on Tuesday, Octo- ricultural sectors. ties, and increasing agricultural exports
ber 26, regarding the new agricultural According to data from the Ministry of to MAD 60 billion ($6.6 billion) by 2030.
season, Morocco’s Minister of Agricul- Agriculture, olive trees represent 65% of The agriculture sector in Morocco con-
ture, Mohamed Sadiki, explained that the national arboreal soil, and have long tributes to 19% of the country’s GDP, and
the “citrus production is expected to in- been the most abundantly harvested the industry is one of Morocco’s most vi-
crease by 14%, and olive production by product in Morocco. tal economic sectors.
21% compared to the previous season.” Morocco’s olive sector is a crucial
The Minister added that production of source of employment, providing over
“the main fruit trees during this season 51 million labor hours annually, which
will be significantly higher than the pre- is equivalent to 380,000 permanent jobs.
vious one, according to initial forecasts, The olive sector contributed to 19% of
especially if there will be favorable cli- Morocco’s domestic edible oil use, and
mate conditions.” generated an annual average of MAD
Sadiki also noted that the agricultural 1.8 billion (approximately $180 million)
sector plays a crucial role in achieving from exports for the period 2013-2017.
food security in Morocco, as evidenced Morocco has recently implemented
during the beginning of the COVID-19 a new agriculture strategy entitled the
crisis. A previous report from the High Green Generation 2020-2030.

Arab Agriculture 2023 35