new record for Moroccan exports of frozen strawberries. In 2024, Moroccan expeditions to this country reached 5,972 tonnes, for a value of $ 9.9 million, an increase of 14% compared to 2023, according to the Eastfruit platform. As a reminder, in 2023, Moroccan exports amounted to 4,445 tonnes, 34% more than in 2022.
The first significant expeditions of frozen strawberries from Morocco began to arrive in Japan in 1995. However, it was not until 2015 that the Japanese market became an important destination for Moroccan producers, underlines Eastfruit.
Since then, Morocco has continued to strengthen its presence on this market, increasing these expeditions: export volumes have thus experienced constant growth, with an annual growth rate (TCAC) of 13.1% in the last decade.
It should be noted that exports of Moroccan frozen strawberries in Japan are spread over the whole year, with export peaks from May to July. For 2024, the highest monthly export volume was recorded in July.
Source : EastFruit.
Morocco, 3rd supplier from Japan in frozen strawberries
In 2019, the main frozen strawberry suppliers from Japan were China, Egypt, Chile and the United States, collectively representing 85% of imports. However, over the past five years, Morocco has considerably increased its market share in Japan. While Moroccan strawberries represented only 7% of the market in 2019, their share reached 15% in 2023.
Source : EastFruit.
-At the end of 2024, the share of Morocco in imports of frozen strawberries in Japan reached around 16.7%. This increase has enabled the country to strengthen its position, surpassing the United States and Chile, and ensuring third place among the main suppliers after Egypt and China.
Despite a general decrease in frozen strawberry exports from Morocco to other markets in the past two years (www.lematin), Japan remains a promising destination, displaying a constant growth in demand for Moroccan products.
Morocco’s success on the Japanese market confirms its status as a world -confirmed world exporter for frozen strawberries, regularly ranking among the first five suppliers. In addition to Japan, Morocco actively increases its exports of frozen strawberries to European countries such as Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, as well as to the United States and Canada.
Over the period January-October 2023, strawberries were the main frozen fruit sold internationally, with 45,000 tonnes. In 2022, Morocco sold nearly 75,000 abroad. The withdrawal recorded in 2023 is caused by climatic conditions: cold strokes followed by drought.
Fresh fruit: the other offensive from Morocco
In addition to frozen strawberries, Morocco also exports frozen raspberries to Japan, although smaller quantities, as well as other frozen fruits.
In addition, at the beginning of the year, Morocco sent citrus to Japan for the first time. A major advance for Moroccan exporters since this market is renowned for its strict requirements for phytosanitary standards. It is also an event qualified as a breakthrough that opens the way to other fresh products (www.lematin.ma).
This first delivery is accompanied by a well -and -form communication campaign. Indeed, Morocco FOODEX recruited the company K Events to support it this month in the citrus promotion campaign on the Japanese market (www.lematin.ma). Objective: promote the quality of Moroccan citrus fruits from Japanese importers and consumers.
