Morocco’s imports of seed potato reached a five-year high of 60,000 tons in MY 2022/23, totaling a spending of 40 Mln, said EastFruit on Thursday.
Given the significant volume of local ware potato production, which reached a record high of 1,64 million tons in 2021, it is no surprise that demand for high-quality seed potatoes is relatively strong in Morocco.
Moroccan importers continue to increase seed potato imports, with the season spanning from October to May and peaking in winter.
Seed potatoes are the second largest traded category of fruits and vegetables in Morocco, after dates, and the fifth in terms of value.
Morocco experienced the worst drought in three decades in summer 2022, adversely impacting production. Weather anomalies are likely to have had an impact on Moroccan potato exports, which decreased nearly to zero in 2023.
Seed potatoes are generally transported to Morocco from the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Denmark, and France; with the Dutch suppliers accounting for the majority of the Moroccan market.