Morocco Curbs Tomato Exports as Domestic Prices Soar

The price of tomatoes exceeds 12 dirhams per kilogram in some cities, while just a few days ago, it only cost 5 dirhams. The increase would be caused by the rise in the price of diesel, the drought, but also exports, according to several farmers.

To deal with this, industry professionals have decided to stop exporting this product to certain international markets, said Houcine Aderdour, president of the Moroccan Inter-professional Federation of Fruit and Vegetable Production and Export, to SNRTnews.

He specifies that "the European Union countries that import Moroccan tomatoes are not affected by this decision". He adds that "the markets concerned by this decision will nevertheless receive a share of 20% of the quantities that were intended for them in view of the contracts previously signed between Moroccan exporters and these markets".

This decision to limit exports is in line with the statements made by Mustapha Baitas, Minister Delegate in charge of Relations with Parliament, government spokesperson. He had announced on Thursday, March 10 that tomato prices would fall in the coming days, stressing that there was "a major orientation towards the export of tomatoes in addition to imbalances in the domestic market, due to the multiplicity of intermediaries that drive up prices".