Morocco's fruit and vegetable exports to Russia fell 33 percent in the first 11 months of 2022 compared to 2021, with revenues hitting a new low in recent years. As a result, Russia has become the sixth most important market for Moroccan fruit after Spain, the Netherlands, France, the United Kingdom and Germany. In addition, Canada and the United States are catching up with Russia in imports of Moroccan products.

The main products exported from Morocco to Russia are oranges and tangerines, which, when shipped to the Russian Federation, account for 71 per cent of all export earnings in the fruit sector. Citrus exports are down 11 percent in a year, and citrus exports are down 7 percent.

On the other hand, blueberry exports from Morocco to Russia, which ranked third in terms of supply, increased. Morocco's blueberry export revenue to Russia increased 15 percent year on year and accounted for 12 percent of total fruit and vegetable export revenue. Strawberry exports have seen a similar rise. Raspberry and blackberry exports, on the other hand, fell 6 percent.Exports of lemons fell the most, by 42 per cent. Orange exports also fell 19 percent. In the first 11 months of 2022, exports of other products did not exceed 464,740 euros.

That means Morocco urgently needs to find alternative markets for citrus, especially as Russia's population shrinks and incomes plummet.