Moroccan strawberry exports collapse to historic low

Moroccan strawberries are facing a deep export crisis. While Moroccan blueberries and raspberries continue to advance in international markets, fresh strawberries are declining for the fourth consecutive season.

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Between October 2025 and April 2026, Moroccan exporters shipped only 8,700 tonnes of fresh strawberries abroad. This volume represents half of what was recorded a year earlier and places the current campaign on a historically low trajectory.

According to EastFruit, this decline is no longer a simple seasonal accident. The sector is facing a structural crisis, aggravated by foreign competition, water stress, labour shortages and climate volatility.

Morocco first lost ground to Egypt. Egyptian producers significantly expanded their acreage and offered cheaper strawberries, reducing the ability of Moroccan exporters to maintain their margins. Some producers then began turning away from fresh strawberries to invest in more profitable crops.

Water and weather worsen the crisis

Drought has further intensified difficulties. Strawberries require substantial water, while groundwater levels have dropped significantly in several production zones. In some coastal regions, salinization also complicates farmers’ work, forcing them to invest more to protect their crops.

Labour is also becoming harder to mobilize. Seasonal workers are leaving to work in Spain, where wages are higher, while others prefer raspberry or blueberry farms, considered more attractive.

The 2025-2026 campaign was then disrupted by cold, humidity and irregular temperatures. These conditions delayed fruit ripening and cost Morocco part of its most profitable window in the European market.

Early 2026 floods in Gharb and Loukkos dealt another severe blow. Fields were submerged, protective tunnels destroyed and part of the harvest lost.

Declines affect almost all major markets. Shipments to France fell by more than 80%. The United Kingdom and Spain, two major outlets for Moroccan strawberries, declined by 44% and 54% respectively. Saudi Arabia is growing, but with volumes still too low to reverse the trend.

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Morocco’s red fruit sector is therefore transforming rapidly. Investments are increasingly directed towards blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and avocados. Strawberries retain a place in frozen products, particularly IQF, but fresh Moroccan strawberries are clearly losing ground in exports.