Moroccan Tomato Exporters Boycott Russian Market Amid Trade Tensions

There is now mistrust between Moroccan tomato exporters and the Russian authorities. Despite the moratorium and the requirements imposed, Moroccan professionals have chosen to snub the country for the marketing of their product during this campaign, reports the newspaper Les Inspirations ÉCO.

The exporters mentioned a disguised embargo by the Russian authorities to help their producers. This resulted in "the rejection, at the entry of the Russian market, last year, of Moroccan tomato shipments on the grounds that they were contaminated by the Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV)".

However, the incriminated virus, although it can affect plants and subject to quarantine measures for tomato seeds and plants, is not harmful to commercial tomatoes and poses no danger to the consumer, explains the newspaper.

Faced with this ambiguous situation, the majority of producer-exporters have not included this destination in their production schedules, notes the newspaper, adding that in recent years, exports to Russia have fallen, from 120,000 to 55,000 tons, and now represent only a few thousand tons.