Spanish media: Tomato prices in Europe reach unprecedented levels following Morocco’s export halt

Tomato prices in European markets have surged to unprecedented levels since the start of the current season, following Morocco’s suspension of tomato exports to Europe, according to Spanish media La Razón.

Prices are currently around €8 per kilogram, the source said, attributing the increase to “bad weather in southern producing countries, particularly Morocco, which delayed the summer season and reduced supply for both export and domestic markets.”

It added that the market is experiencing an imbalance between high demand and limited supply, pushing prices up.

Despite this, demand for tomatoes remains strong, especially with warmer weather, as consumers expect a better supply in the coming days when the harvest starts, which could help bring prices down, the source concluded.

In mid-April, the Independent Authority for Monitoring and Coordination of Exports under the Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests decided to stop tomato exports to European and African markets, according to a professional source, after prices in Morocco reached nearly 15 MAD per kilogram. 

The aim was to increase supply in the local market and lower prices for consumers.

The impact was quick, with wholesale prices in southern markets falling from about 350 MAD per box to around 100 MAD.

Yet, the decision has caused debate among professionals. 

Some Moroccan producers and exporters have threatened to move their businesses to African countries, including Mauritania and Senegal, saying there was no prior discussion or coordination with them.

Exporters say stopping exports does not always lead to lower prices and point to deeper problems in the agricultural production chain. 

“This sudden and arbitrary decision has created severe crises with our foreign partners,” Mohamed Zemrani, president of the Moroccan Association of Exporters of Various Goods to Africa and Abroad, stressed.