Morocco Halts Vegetable Exports to West Africa Amid Soaring Domestic Prices

This decision, which took effect on February 9, comes from the Autonomous Establishment for the Control and Coordination of Agricultural and Food Exports (Morocco Foodex). It should generally not affect West Africa, the main African market for Moroccan agri-food products (about 54% of shipments), as vegetables only account for 5% of trade.

This measure is justified by the surge in tomato prices on the domestic market, particularly due to the drop in local supply linked to the cold waves affecting the Souss-Massa region, the main production basin of the kingdom (90% of the harvest), with the kg of tomatoes currently trading between 10-12 dirhams, or double the rate observed last December.

According to data from the High Commission for Planning (HCP), inflation stood at 6.6% in 2022 with a 11% jump in the food products index against only 3.9% for non-food products.