Attention Asian importers: Egypt and Morocco offer the most profitable opportunities (video)!

Competition on the global market of fruits and vegetables is very high and finding a profitable import niche is becoming increasingly difficult. If you are reading this, you are in the right place as we can help discover new untapped niches!

According EastFruit, program of Asian Fruit Congress in 2024 included a very interesting session on new fresh produce sourcing opportunities for Asian fruit and vegetable importers from Egypt and Morocco. However, a super typhoon Yagi paid a visit to Hong Kong and in-person presentation became impossible as the expo was closed.

Thus, the team who prepared for this session decided to make these presentations virtually instead and on 12 September 2024 held it online. Below, you can find a video recording of the event. Under the video, we made a brief summary of the event for your convenience.

The online event was organized with the support of the FAO/EBRD Project: Food Security Package SEMED – Diversifying and Adding Value to Export Markets in cooperation with FoodEx Morocco, AEC and HEIA (both Egypt) and was moderated by Andriy Yarmak, an economist at the Investment Centre of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

Besides Andriy Yarmak, the speakers of the event included:

Mr. Hesham ElNaggar – Vice Chairman at Daltex Corporation Group in Egypt, a board member of the Horticultural Export Improvement Association (HEIA) and the vice chairman at the Agricultural Export Council

Mr.  Yevhen Kuzin, International Horticulture Market Consultant at FAO based in Ukraine

Mr. Abderrahmane Zouhir, Director of Krone F&V company, Morocco

Ms. Hajer Magdy, International Horticulture Market Consultant at FAO, Egypt

Mr. Idriss El Honsali, FoodEx, Morocco

Mr. Ashraf Elshafay, Queen Tiye, Egypt

Below are the key points from the event.

1. Global produce market is growing at a rate, which is below the US dollar inflation, meaning that it is de-facto stagnating or declining due to deglobalization and various other factors.
2. Asia is the only region with impressive and sustainable increase in fruit and vegetable imports.
3. The best immediate opportunities for profitable imports from Asia exist in the segments of oranges and palm dates, where Egypt is expanding very fast but also in the frozen strawberries.
4. Egypt is a global leader in terms of fruit & vegetable export expansion with 11.7% growth rate and Morocco is the 4^th fastest growing global exporter, boosting export sales by 8% each year.
5. Combined average annual increase of produce exports from Egypt and Morocco is US $580mn!
6. Very good opportunities are also available in the segment of fresh berries (blueberries and raspberries specifically|) and premium mandarins from Morocco, as well as fresh strawberries from Egypt as well as potatoes, onions, table grapes and pomegranates.
7. Supermago from Egypt may be a top discovery for importers who value unique tasty fruits! With over 250 local varieties, Egyptian native mangoes are among the sweetest fruits on Earth and could only be shipped to Asia by air due to their perishability and to preserve the taste and aroma.
8. Surprisingly, Egypt is already exporting garlic to the region, but some local strong varieties could help chefs in Asia discover new competitive advantages in cuisine.
9. Another two potential niches from Egypt are guavas and sweet potatoes as production and exports are expanding fast.
10. Morocco, being one of the global leaders in avocados, could also fill some supply gaps in Asia periodically.
11. Morocco could also surprise demanding consumers with the taste of its cherry and plum tomatoes. Morocco’s tomatoes are already periodically supplied to Asia’s high-end supermarkets by air via the traders from Netherlands. Thus, direct contacts with growers could help make this trade more efficient.
12. Any produce with retail prices from US $8 per kg, which can be grown and air-freighted from both countries, would be a great opportunity.
13. Morocco and Egypt supply most of its produce to the EU and USA, which confirms that their safety and quality standards in the produce segment are up to the highest global standards.
14. Highly educated and motivated personnel in both countries combined with excellent diverse climate makes they very competitive in fruit and vegetable production and exports.
15. While Egypt offers a lot of very competitively priced fruits and vegetables, Morocco is focusing more on premium markets but both countries offer a wide range of produce.
16. Red Sea crises has forced growers in Egypt and Morocco to upgrade quality and target higher quality segments of the produce markets

We invite buyers from Asia to visit Food Africa Expo in Egypt on 3-5 December 2024 and our team would be happy to link you with leading verified exporters from Egypt. Also, if you are at Fruit Attraction in Madrid on October 8-10, 2024, please get in touch with us to meet exporters from Morocco and Egypt.