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Agriculture

Morocco's Agricultural Exports Surge: Dominating Spain's Produce Market in 2024

Wednesday 16 - 16:30

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Morocco has solidified its position as the leading supplier of fresh produce to Spain, with exports soaring to $755 million from January to July 2024. This impressive figure accounts for 24% of Spain's total fruit and vegetable imports during this period, marking a 10% growth compared to the same months in 2023.

The Spanish Federation of Associations and Producers and Exporters of Fruits, Vegetables, Flowers and Live Plants (FEPEX) recently released a report highlighting Morocco's dominant role in Spain's produce market. Overall, Spanish imports of fresh fruit and vegetables reached $3.1 billion, representing a 10% increase from the previous year. Notably, 68% of these imports, valued at $2.1 billion, originated from non-EU countries, with Morocco at the forefront.

Other key suppliers to the Spanish market include Peru, France, and Portugal. Peru secured the second position with exports valued at $343 million, showing a 12% increase. France followed closely with $322 million, up by 14%, while Portugal contributed $236 million, reflecting a 16% rise.

The report also noted significant contributions from Costa Rica, the Netherlands, Italy, Brazil, and New Zealand. Costa Rica ranked fifth, with exports totaling $182 million, a 13% increase from the previous year. New Zealand demonstrated the most substantial growth, with its exports surging by 58% to reach $114 million.

Morocco's strong performance in January 2024 was particularly noteworthy, with Spain importing $144 million worth of fruits and vegetables from the North African country. This figure represents a remarkable 45% increase compared to January 2023. The volume of imports also saw a significant rise, reaching 57,534 tons – a 31% increase from the previous year.

By May 2024, Morocco's influence in the European Union's produce market had expanded even further, commanding 65% of the EU's total tomato imports. The quantity of Moroccan tomatoes imported by the EU increased from 329,700 tons to over 539,300 tons, raising concerns among Spanish tomato producers who view Morocco's growing market share as a potential threat to their industry.

This remarkable growth in Morocco's agricultural exports underscores the strength of its farming sector and its crucial role in supplying one of Europe's largest markets. As Morocco continues to expand its presence in the Spanish and broader European produce markets, it will be interesting to observe how this shift impacts regional trade dynamics and agricultural policies in the coming years.