Moroccan produce traders expect tomato, potato and onion prices to ease within three weeks

Moroccan produce professionals expect prices of tomatoes, potatoes and onions to return to normal levels within the next three weeks, as supplies increase in domestic markets.

Prices remained elevated in popular markets on Saturday, with tomatoes selling for MAD 14 per kilogram and potatoes reaching MAD 8 per kilogram.

A trader at the wholesale market in Inezgane said tomato prices could return to their usual levels within 20 days, adding that supplies were expected to become more abundant across the country.

He also said potato stocks were sufficient, noting that the produce was available in cold-storage facilities.

The trader said the government’s temporary suspension of tomato, potato and onion exports to African markets could help increase domestic availability. However, he called for export activity to be regulated according to the needs of neighboring countries, particularly Mauritania, rather than handled arbitrarily.

Wholesale markets report sufficient supplies

Jaafar Sabban, director of Casablanca’s wholesale fruit and vegetable market, said supplies remained sufficient to meet demand, with no shortages reported so far.

Speaking to Hespress, Sabban said the market received 437 tons of tomatoes on Saturday, indicating that supplies were available in significant quantities.

Wholesale tomato prices ranged from MAD 4 to MAD 11 per kilogram, depending on quality. He stressed that tomatoes sold at MAD 4 were also of acceptable quality and could be purchased by consumers at around MAD 6 in retail markets.

Sabban said the prevailing wholesale price for tomatoes that day was MAD 6 per kilogram, suggesting that retail prices should generally not exceed MAD 9 to MAD 10.

The market also received 875 tons of potatoes and 425 tons of onions, according to Sabban.

Potato prices ranged from MAD 3.50 to MAD 6.50 per kilogram, while onions sold for between MAD 4 and MAD 6.50, depending on quality.

Sabban said the temporary export suspension could help strengthen domestic supply. He pointed to the increase in potato deliveries, which rose to 875 tons on Saturday from 700 tons on the same day last year.