Morocco's Dominance in Norway's Berry Market
Morocco has firmly established itself as Norway's premier supplier of fresh raspberries and blackberries, achieving a significant milestone in the Marketing Year (MY) 2025/26. According to EastFruit, the importation of Moroccan berries has seen a steady increase over the past five years, nearly doubling during this period. Notably, for the first time, Moroccan berries accounted for over 50 percent of Norway's total berry imports.
Between July 2025 and June 2026, Norway imported an impressive 707 tons of raspberries and blackberries from Morocco, with a total value exceeding €9.3 million. This figure marks a 22 percent increase compared to MY 2024/25, setting a new record for both nations. This remarkable achievement is even more striking considering that Norway's overall berry imports experienced a downturn during the same marketing year.
The Strategic Timing of Moroccan Exports
Norway, while a relatively small market, offers significant opportunities due to its limited domestic raspberry production, which meets only part of the summer demand and is hampered by climatic conditions. As a result, imports play an essential role in satisfying consumer demand throughout the year. Morocco's export season typically runs from October to May, with peak demand occurring in winter and late spring. Although shipments during the winter months showed modest growth in MY 2025/26, the groundbreaking moment came in May when imports surged to a record 216 tons, more than doubling the previous year’s figures. May is traditionally critical, serving as a transitional period between winter imports and the commencement of Norway's local berry season, and Morocco effectively capitalized on this opportunity, outpacing its competitors.
Portugal and Morocco are the primary sources for Norway's raspberry and blackberry supply, with smaller quantities coming from the Netherlands, Spain, Mexico, and Poland. However, Spain's contribution has decreased in recent years, and Portugal's exports saw a significant decline in MY 2025/26, particularly towards the end of the year. Compared to MY 2024/25, Portuguese shipments dropped by nearly 27 percent, creating an opportunity that Moroccan exporters seized, ultimately shipping 215 tons more than Portugal by the end of the marketing year, thus reclaiming the top position.
MY 2025/26 is now recognized as Morocco's most successful year in berry exports to Norway, highlighting the nation’s ability to adapt to changing market dynamics and seize opportunities where competitors falter. The sustainability of Morocco's lead will depend on its performance during the crucial December–January period and its ability to deliver strong volumes once again in May. This achievement also complements Morocco’s broader expansion strategy across Northern Europe, where the country has doubled its exports of sweet peppers to Norway, further solidifying its position in the region.
As reported by east-fruit.com.
