Rabat – Over the past decade, Morocco carried its position in the global tomato market, expanding its production by 17.36% between 2014 and 2023.
According to data from Food and Agriculture Organization Statistics (FAOSTAT), analyzed by Hortoinfo, this favorable upturn stands in stark contrast to declines in Europe, where Spain and the Netherlands reduced their output by 18.83% and 19.93%.
Turkey continues to hegemonize the market with 13.3 billion kilos of tomatoes produced in 2023, a 12.24% uptick compared to 2014. France also witnessed a slight increase, producing 656 million kilos in 2023, up from 608 million kilos a decade earlier.
Spain, traditionally one of Europe’s leading tomato producers, saw its production plummet from 4.88 billion kilos in 2014 to 3.96 billion kilos in 2023.
The Netherlands recorded a similar trend, with output dropping from 900 million kilos to 726 kilos over the same period.
Meanwhile, Morocco arose as a cutthroat competitor in the European Union market. Its tomato production grew from 1.23 billion kilos in 2014 to 1.44 billion kilos in 2023.
Favorable policies, efficient agricultural practices, and proximity to Europa have helped Moroccan producers gain an edge in a market where suppliers are usually faced with rising costs and several challenges.
As European producers scale back, countries like Morocco and Turkey are stepping up to meet the growing demand.
Despite Morocco’s growing role as a key supplier of fresh tomatoes to the European Union, it faces difficulties in managing the volatile prices of tomatoes domestically.
This month, tomato prices in Morocco have surged ahead of Ramadan.
Wholesale prices have reached MAD 220 ($22) per crate, translating to MAD 8 ($0.8) per kilo, while retail prices have climbed to MAD 10 ($1) or more per kilo, putting additional pressure on household budgets.
Read Also: Morocco To Remain Key Supplier of Fresh Tomatoes to EU
