Morocco has shipped nearly 2,000 tonnes of frozen raspberries and blackberries to France in the first ten months of 2025, marking its strongest performance to date in a highly competitive European market.
Trade data show the exports were worth close to US$6 million, already surpassing last year’s full-year total and edging above the previous peak recorded in 2022.
The result makes 2025 the best year so far for Moroccan frozen berry exports to the French market, signalling a rebound after a period of disruption and intense competition.
Morocco’s frozen raspberry trade with France has followed an uneven path since the first official shipments in the early 2000s, when volumes were modest and the product played only a marginal role in French imports.
Growth accelerated gradually as Morocco invested in cold-chain logistics, expanded berry production and benefited from rising European demand for frozen fruit.
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A key milestone came in 2021, when exports exceeded 1,000 tonnes for the first time. Momentum carried into 2022, when Morocco broke into France’s top five suppliers.
That progress faltered in 2023, as shipments fell sharply amid supply constraints and heavy competition from Eastern Europe. The strong recovery in 2025 suggests the setback was temporary rather than structural.
Despite the rebound, France remains a secondary outlet for Moroccan exporters. As of October, it ranked fifth among destinations, accounting for roughly 7 percent of Morocco’s total frozen raspberry shipments.
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Still, the steady increase points to growing acceptance of Moroccan produce among French buyers, in a market known for narrow margins and high price sensitivity.
France’s frozen raspberry and blackberry imports are dominated by Serbia and Poland, which together supply about half of total volumes. Ukraine has consolidated third place for a second consecutive year after rapidly expanding exports over the past five years.
Beyond the top three, supplier rankings are more fluid. Belgium and Cyprus featured prominently in recent seasons, but Cyprus’s shipments have dropped sharply this year, creating space for Morocco to gain ground.
Germany and Chile remain close competitors, keeping pressure on prices and volumes.
The 2025 figures nonetheless confirm Morocco’s return to strength in the French market, with exports back above previous highs and the country firmly re-established among France’s leading frozen berry suppliers.
Background on Morocco’s Raspberry exports
Morocco has emerged over the past two decades as one of the most dynamic berry exporters in the Mediterranean basin, with raspberries playing an increasingly strategic role alongside strawberries and blueberries.
Commercial raspberry production began expanding in the early 2000s, driven by investment from European agribusiness firms seeking counter-seasonal supply and lower production costs. Cultivation is concentrated mainly in the Loukkos, Gharb and Souss-Massa regions, where mild winters, access to irrigation and proximity to ports support export-oriented farming.
Unlike strawberries, which dominate fresh exports, raspberries are sold both fresh and frozen. The frozen segment has gained importance as it allows producers to reduce exposure to price volatility, manage surplus supply and reach industrial buyers in Europe’s food processing sector.
By the mid-2010s, Morocco had positioned itself as a reliable secondary supplier to European markets, complementing production from Eastern Europe. Investments in cold storage, IQF (individually quick frozen) technology and logistics infrastructure helped exporters meet strict European quality and traceability standards.
The European Union remains Morocco’s principal destination for frozen raspberries, with France, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium among the main markets. However, Morocco has faced stiff competition from Serbia, Poland and, more recently, Ukraine, where lower labour costs and large-scale production have exerted downward pressure on prices.
Morocco’s raspberry exports have therefore followed a cyclical pattern, expanding rapidly in years of strong European demand and tightening during periods of oversupply or weather-related production shocks. The sharp drop in exports in 2023 reflected both reduced harvests and intensified competition, particularly from Eastern Europe following supply chain adjustments after the Ukraine war.
The rebound seen in 2025 is linked to improved yields, better coordination between growers and processors, and renewed demand from European buyers seeking diversified supply sources. Exporters have also benefited from Morocco’s trade agreements with the EU, which provide preferential market access compared with non-associated suppliers.
Beyond Europe, Morocco has gradually explored alternative markets in the Middle East and Asia, though volumes remain small compared with EU-bound shipments. Industry analysts say further growth will depend on improving productivity, managing water constraints and moving up the value chain through branding and higher-quality frozen products.
As climate variability and geopolitical disruptions continue to affect global berry supply, Morocco’s ability to balance cost competitiveness with consistent quality is expected to determine whether its recent gains in frozen raspberry exports can be sustained over the medium term.
