Spanish Farmers Raise Alarm as Moroccan Tomato Exports to EU Surge

In a note published on August 31, the Spanish producers, gathered within the Spanish Federation of Fruit, Vegetable, Flower and Plant Exporter Producer Associations (FEPEX), denounced the dynamic progress of Moroccan tomato exports to the EU market, particularly to Spain and the United Kingdom. In the first half of the year, Moroccan exports of fresh fruits and vegetables to the EU increased by 9%, reaching 1.021 million tonnes, or 1.563 billion euros, the Federation said.

In Spain, Spanish imports of Moroccan tomatoes also increased by 6% in volume to 368,946 tonnes and 654 million euros in value (15%). "Growth is observed for products such as tomatoes, peppers, beans and zucchini, raspberries, blueberries, watermelons and avocados," FEPEX said, also denouncing the sharp increase in Moroccan tomato exports (+15%) and berries (+33%) to the United Kingdom, thus supplanting Spain, which was the country’s leading supplier.

This Moroccan dynamic, in a context of decline in Spanish exports (-5.4%), shows "the urgency of implementing a policy to improve competitiveness, which requires urgent measures in different areas, mainly in R&D and phytosanitary investments," recommends FEPEX.