A first container of Moroccan citrus fruits has officially disembarked in Japan, marking the Kingdom's debut into one of the world's most demanding markets in terms of quality and traceability, Morocco Foodex announced on Thursday.
This feat reflects “the competitiveness of Moroccan agricultural products and internationally recognized know-how”, Morocco Foodex said in a press release.
Japan, Morocco's thirteenth-largest customer for agri-food products, is famed for its strict requirements, the same source noted, pointing out that “the approval of Moroccan citrus fruits, notably the much sought-after Nadorcott, speaks of the compliance with the most rigorous sanitary standards and paves the way for a diversification of exports, according to market preferences”.
With a food culture focused on freshness and seasonality, Japan has a high consumption of fresh fruit, making it a major outlet for Moroccan citrus.
“The Japanese hold a very favorable image of Morocco. We wish Moroccan citrus fruit success in Japan”, Kento Takegami, head of purchasing at a Japanese import company, confirms.
To bolster this progress, an economic mission organized by Morocco Foodex is accompanying a delegation of ten Moroccan exporters to Japan in April, with the aim of promoting the Moroccan offer and forging lasting partnerships with Japanese investors.
In 2023, Morocco exported 18,000 tons of agri-food products to Japan, valued at 14 billion yen ($91 million).
