Morocco and Egypt Thrive as UK Vegetable Imports Shift Post-Brexit

Tuesday 12 December 2023 - 08:00

By: Dakir Madiha

Morocco and Egypt Thrive as UK Vegetable Imports Shift Post-Brexit

Since the UK formally withdrew from the EU, Morocco and Egypt have experienced a surge in profits, benefiting from a significant shift in British vegetable imports beyond Europe. Recent data reveals that Morocco has tripled its produce exports to the UK from 2018 to 2022. Meanwhile, traditional EU suppliers such as France and Belgium have witnessed a decline of up to 50% in their UK imports during this period.

Morocco is now reaping the rewards, with an annual revenue exceeding half a billion dollars from shipping tomatoes, mandarins, berries, and more across the English Channel. In the past year alone, Morocco earned $204 million from raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries destined for UK markets and kitchens.

Egypt has also seized the opportunities presented by Brexit, with its fruit and vegetable exports to Britain surging by an impressive 150%. Grapes, oranges, onions, and frozen strawberries are among the leading products, contributing to a total of $230 million in revenue so far this year.

Insiders in the industry attribute this export boom to post-Brexit red tape complicating EU imports. The additional documentation and border checks have led more UK buyers to look beyond the continent and turn to Morocco, Egypt, and other non-EU partners.

While Spain grapples with the impacts of climate change on crops, Poland stands out as an exception, increasing its exports to the UK by one-third since Brexit took effect in 2020.

Looking beyond current events, research traces today's trends back further. According to data from a reputable firm, the share of Britain's produce imports from non-EU sources climbed by 4 percentage points to reach 51% in 2022, reflecting years of incremental growth.

In the context of escalating UK food inflation and substantial import hurdles for many nations, Morocco and Egypt have adeptly filled widening gaps in Britain's fruit bowls. While Brexit has posed challenges for exports in various countries worldwide, for these two kingdoms, the new era has borne delicious fruit.