Tomatoes: Morocco dethrones Spain and becomes Europe’s leading supplier

Over the course of a decade, Spanish tomato exports to the European Union have plunged by 34%. This decline is primarily explained by Morocco’s rise to power, which has become the indispensable non-EU supplier in this sector. According to data from the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, the kingdom now controls 70.6% of market share among third countries, far surpassing Turkey, which caps out at 22.1%.

On Bladi.net : Tomato: Morocco Dethrones Spain and Becomes Europe’s Absolute King

Since the association agreement came into force in 2012, Moroccan shipments to Europe have surged by 52% through 2025. Paradoxically, Spain positions itself as the leading buyer of this production, absorbing 25.1% of volumes in 2024, ahead of France and the United Kingdom.

As El Español points out, the 2025-2026 campaign did, however, record a cyclical decline of 20.3% with 187,866 tonnes sold, a drop directly linked to unfavorable weather conditions.

On Bladi.net : Tomatoes: why Morocco is winning the price war against Spain

This commercial upheaval reignites the anger of Spanish farmers, historically recognized for their productivity in regions such as Andalusia and Valencia. Subject to rigorous European standards on social, environmental, and health matters, they denounce "unfair competition," arguing that Moroccan products escape these requirements. A rift that echoes the current mistrust of the agricultural world regarding the provisional entry into force, on May 1st, of the free trade agreement with South American Mercosur countries.