Morocco comforts its supremacy in the war of tomatoes in the face of Spanish pressure – VIVAFRIK

Morocco comforts its supremacy in the war of tomatoes in the face of Spanish pressure – VIVAFRIK


Morocco, undisputed leader in tomato exports to the European Union, faces increased opposition from Spain, which denounces quota overruns and requests sanctions.

Morocco is today the first supplier of tomatoes from the European Union from third countries. However, this dominant position stirs up the anger of Spanish producers, which multiply actions to limit the presence of the Moroccan product on the European market.

A new Spanish offensive against Moroccan tomatoes

On January 20, 2025, the coordination of Spanish farmers and breeders organizations (COAG) announced its intention to seize the European Union (CCE) Court of Auditors (CCE) to attack importers of Moroccan tomatoes for “tax fraud” . According to her, nearly 230,000 tonnes of Moroccan tomatoes have been introduced each year into the European market between 2019 and 2024, by exceeding the maximum limit set by the 2012 EU-Maroc agreement.

This situation would have deprived Spain of “71.7 million euros in customs duties” according to Spanish claims. But for Lahoucine Adardour, president of the Moroccan interprofessional federation of the production and export of fruits and vegetables (FIFEL), these accusations are only a new attempt to brake the Moroccan boom.

Morocco maintains the course and continues its record exports

Faced with these accusations, the Moroccan official remains serene. “It’s not new and it’s not surprising. Spanish producers have been trying for years to hinder Moroccan exports, without success, ”he told Freshplaza.

The figures prove him right. During the 2022/2023 campaign, Morocco exported a record of 539,307 tonnes of tomatoes to the EU. And the dynamics seem to be confirmed in 2024. According to the Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development (CEO Agri) of the European Commission, Morocco has sent 136,781 tonnes of tomatoes to Europe between October and November 2023, i.e. An increase of 42.5 % compared to the previous year. A trend that suggests a new record by next September.

Why does Moroccan tomato dominate the European market?

Several factors explain the success of Morocco in this strategic sector: in particular competitive production costs: a cheaper workforce and reduced operating expenses; Ideal climatic conditions: high sunshine throughout the year and a favorable customs diet: bilateral agreements that facilitate exports.

Spanish difficulties: the outbreak of energy costs since 2022, linked to the war in Ukraine, has reduced the profitability of Spanish greenhouses.

A promising future for Moroccan tomatoes

Despite Spanish threats, Lahoucine Adardour remains confident. “I do not see Spanish justice yield to the sabotage of trade relations between Morocco and Europe. […] In the meantime, exports from Moroccan tomatoes to Europe continue without interruption ”.

With a constant progression and solid growth prospects, the Moroccan tomato asserts itself more than ever as an essential player in the European market, to the chagrin of its Spanish competitors.

Moctar Ficou / VIVAFRIK

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