Blueberries are the fruit that Morocco sells the most to Spain and, apparently, it is also one of the most exported to Southeast Asia. The demand for Moroccan blueberries has surged in Southeast Asia, largely due to the rising middle class and the influence of tourists introducing new consumption habits. In the first eleven months of 2023, Morocco exported a massive 1,400 tons of fresh blueberries to Southeast Asia, excluding Vietnam. This represents a 50% increase from 2022, even before the peak export season, which typically begins in December.
96% of these exports are destined for Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia. Other markets like Thailand and Macau have also seen a significant rise in Moroccan blueberry imports, with Thailand nearly tripling its imports to 30 tons and Macau increasing by 3 tons. Furthermore, Morocco has also introduced its blueberries to the Indonesian market with a test batch of 720 kg.
Other countries including Australia, Zimbabwe, and China have also noted substantial growth in their blueberry exports to Southeast Asia in 2023. Zimbabwe, in particular, outpaced Morocco by reaching 1,500 tons. With IMF projections indicating that economic development rates in Southeast Asia will be second only to India and China in 2023-2024, the consumption of fresh berries in the region is expected to continue growing, further solidifying Morocco's position in this thriving market.
Source: blueberriesconsulting.com