Morocco takes 70% of EU tomato imports as Spain’s exports fall by a third

Morocco has consolidated its position as the European Union’s leading external supplier of tomatoes, capturing 70.6 percent of imports from non-EU countries and widening the gap with traditional competitors, according to Spanish agriculture data.

The shift marks a clear reversal in market dynamics over the past decade. Spanish tomato exports to the EU have dropped by roughly a third, a decline driven by structural pressures on production and rising costs, even as prices increased to offset lower volumes.

In contrast, Moroccan shipments have steadily expanded, both in volume and value, allowing the country to move from a secondary supplier to a dominant player in the bloc’s fresh produce trade.

Between the 2015–2016 and 2024–2025 seasons, Moroccan exports rose by more than 40 percent, overtaking Spain’s total shipments in several recent campaigns.

Moroccan tomatoes have also gained in price positioning, with higher unit values reflecting stronger demand and improved market integration.

Turkey remains a distant second among non-EU suppliers, with just over 22 percent of the market, underlining the scale of Morocco’s lead.

The trend has intensified tensions within European agricultural sectors, particularly in Spain and France, where producers have raised concerns over competition and import conditions.

Morocco’s tomato sector, closely tied to EU demand, has become one of the country’s most competitive export industries, reinforcing its role in European food supply chains at a time when domestic production in parts of southern Europe is under strain.