Morocco has reportedly decided to limit tomato exports to certain markets for a few days, a measure the Government Spokesperson had hinted at last Thursday, during a press conference.
The provisional measure was put in place about a week ago, before exports resume in the coming days, in order to restore balance to the domestic tomato market, by ensuring the availability and stability of tomato prices ahead of the month of Ramadan.
In recent days, the price of tomatoes has literally exploded in the Moroccan markets and reached up to MAD 12 per kilo, to the great despair of consumers.
Even if sellers explain this increase by the decrease in supply, which occurs every year during this period because of exports, producers disagree.
A rise in the price of inputs, and little water to irrigate tomato plants, in addition to rising transportation costs and a growing inflation are among the reasons behind the price increase.
On Thursday, government spokesman Mustapha Baitas predicted “a drop in the price of tomatoes on the domestic market within 48 hours,” which has already occurred in reseller and wholesale markets.
The resumption of exports will see the introduction of quotas, in addition to firm contracts, which may affect all markets supplied by Moroccan tomatoes.
Morocco remains the largest exporter of fresh tomatoes to the European market. In 2019, trade in goods between the EU and Morocco amounted to 56%, with almost half of Morocco’s imports coming from the EU that year, according to the EU Agricultural Outlook for 2021-2031.
Moroccan tomato exports provide strong competition for Spanish products given the decline in Spanish winter production and the shift to small tomatoes. However, the current drought in Morocco and the nature of the domestic market for this essential good may change this reality.
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