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Economy

Morocco Reigns Supreme in EU's Tomato Import Market

Wednesday 29 May 2024 - 14:20

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Morocco has solidified its position as the undisputed leader in the European Union's tomato import market, capturing an astounding 65% share in 2023. This commanding presence has sent shockwaves through the agricultural sector, leaving many to ponder the implications of Morocco's ascendancy.

As data from the European Commission attests, the influx of Moroccan tomatoes has been nothing short of staggering. Imports soared from nearly 329,700 tons in the previous year to a remarkable 539,300 tons, illustrating Morocco's burgeoning dominance in this domain.

The 2023/24 season alone witnessed the EU importing a colossal 551,000 tons of tomatoes from the global south between October and March. Of this figure, a resounding 373,421 tons hailed from Morocco, a testament to the nation's prowess in this agricultural endeavor.

France, in particular, has embraced the Moroccan tomato with open arms, accounting for 78% of the nation's exports, amounting to an impressive 293,100 tons. Moroccan tomatoes represented 98% of France's tomato imports from non-EU countries during this period, underscoring the depth of this culinary bond.

However, this influx of Moroccan tomatoes has not been without its consequences. Regions renowned for their winter tomato campaigns, such as Almeria in Spain, have experienced a significant drop in prices, prompting concerns from local producers.

Julian Rodríguez, a producer from Almeria and member of CASI, articulated the predicament, stating, "Since late December and early January, the campaign has been complicated by these low prices, and we haven't been able to recover. Fortunately, the beginning of the campaign was very good, with rising prices."

Rodríguez attributed the excess production to favorable weather conditions across all tomato-producing regions, leading to a surplus that has exacerbated the price decline. "We are transporting several million more kilos than the last campaign, even with the low prices and premature harvesting," he explained, highlighting the challenges faced by local producers.

Since the start of this agricultural season, Moroccan tomato exports have faced backlash from EU farmers. In February, European farmers took to the streets, blockading roads and attacking Moroccan trucks transporting vegetables in protest against what they perceive as unfair competition from non-EU countries.

Farmers maintain that countries like Morocco hold an unfair competitive advantage, as they are not bound by the same environmental and labor standards, thereby lowering production costs and enabling them to sell vegetables at more attractive prices.

Despite these allegations, Morocco finds itself in a precarious trade position with the EU, running a deficit of €10 billion as the country exports low-value products such as agricultural produce while importing high-value products.

As the tomato trade saga continues to unfold, one thing remains clear: Morocco's dominance in the EU's tomato import market is a force to be reckoned with, a testament to the nation's agricultural prowess and a harbinger of the challenges that lie ahead for both producers and consumers alike.