In the first half of 2024, Morocco exported a record volume of fresh blueberries to several Eastern European countries, according to EastFruit. Moroccan exporters surpassed the results of the entire previous calendar year, significantly strengthening their position in the key regional market in Eastern Europe.
From January to June 2024, Moroccan blueberries were directly supplied to four Eastern European countries: the Czech Republic, Estonia, Ukraine, and Poland. During this period, Morocco exported 2.1 thousand tons of blueberries to these destinations, compared to 1.8 thousand tons for the entire previous year. Notably, Morocco set records in shipments to Poland (1.5 thousand tons) and Estonia (240 tons) in the first half of this year, although direct presence in Ukraine and the Czech Republic slightly decreased.
It is important to note that these figures only reflect direct shipments of Moroccan blueberries as recorded in each country’s statistics. The actual extent of Moroccan presence in Eastern Europe may be larger, as exports through Spain, the Netherlands, or Germany remain significant channels for Moroccan berries to reach the region.
In total, from January to June 2024, the four mentioned countries imported over 25 thousand tons of blueberries, nearly matching the total for the entire challenging year of 2023 due to El Niño. For instance, in 2022, Poland, the Czech Republic, Estonia, and Ukraine imported 32 thousand tons of fresh blueberries, more than double the amount in 2019. Including other countries like Lithuania, Romania, Latvia, and Slovakia, where Morocco was not directly represented, blueberry imports in the region in 2022 amounted to nearly 45 thousand tons.
Read also: Morocco sets new blueberry export record, with volumes up to all key destinations
Despite countries like Poland, Ukraine, and Romania being relatively large exporters of blueberries, the potential for growth in local off-season consumption remains significant. The main suppliers (excluding re-exporters) to the region are Spain, Chile, Morocco, Peru, Serbia, Portugal, Sweden, and several other smaller countries. The primary import period for these berries is the first half of the year when European suppliers and Morocco dominate the market. The second half of the year sees smaller volumes and the dominance of Southern Hemisphere countries and Sweden, although Sweden mainly supplies wild blueberries and is exclusively present in the Baltic countries.
We remind interested suppliers of blueberries and other fruit and vegetable products in Eastern Europe that they can join the online training “Navigating the Eastern European fresh produce market. Opportunities for Egypt and Morocco” on October 1, as well as participate in the trade mission of Egyptian and Moroccan exporters in Warsaw in November. Details of the trade mission will be published later, so stay tuned for updates on the website www.east-fruit.com.
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