Morocco’s Tomato Prices Soar: Exports and Supply Issues Strain Local Market

Tomatoes are becoming more and more expensive in Morocco. A kilo of tomatoes exceeds 14 dirhams. In a statement to the weekly L’Observateur du Maroc et d’Afrique, Abderrazak Echabbi, secretary general of the association of the wholesale fruit and vegetable market, explains that the export of tomatoes is at the origin of this surge. He also points to the mismatch between supply and demand, particularly due to massive exports to Africa, but also the non-application of caliber and quality standards on the African continent which "aggravates the situation".

Currently, a crate of tomatoes on the wholesale market costs 350 dirhams for 29 or 30 kg and the price per kilogram ex-farm is negotiated at 12 dirhams, says the professional. "Before, Europe sourced according to specific quality standards, and despite this, the supply was adequate. Today, what is consumed locally is the same category exported, while the rest is intended for local consumption," he specifies.

To read: French Tomato Industry Struggles as Moroccan Imports Surge

Even if a tomato is sold at 14 dirhams per kilo, some vendors end up losing money due to reduced profit margins and high costs. "When the tomato is sold at 2 dirhams, the cost of a defective piece does not exceed 10 cents, which does not significantly impact the profit margin. However, throwing away a piece when the kilogram has been bought at 10 dirhams results in losses of 1 to 2 dirhams, thus increasing costs and reducing the profit margin," he details, also advocating a freeze on exports.

For the President of the Moroccan Interprofessional Federation for the Production and Export of Fruits and Vegetables, Lahoucine Aderdour, there are challenges to be met in terms of production. "The sector has been severely affected by a virus affecting certain farms in Agadir, in addition to unfavorable weather conditions. This combination has led to a significant reduction in production, directly impacting supply on the market," he says. In Aderdour’s eyes, a freeze on exports does not guarantee a drop in prices. According to him, the exported tomatoes do not correspond to those demanded locally, particularly for cherry tomatoes, which are largely exported. And to insist: "if the other varieties are scarce on the market, this is not directly related to exports".