Morocco’s tomato exports showed a remarkable increase of 10% from January to March of 2024 compared to the same period last year, while shipping nearly 266,000 tons of greenhouse tomatoes, according to an “East Fruit” article published on Friday.
This period’s increase is higher by 9% compared to the past five years. This achievement is a perfect segue to conclude this season on a strong note, despite its “tumultuous start,” added the source.
The year 2024 saw severe drought and record-breaking summer temperatures, with the Souss-Massa area, an important agricultural hub, hitting +50.4℃ in August.
The emergence of the ToBRFV virus in greenhouses exacerbated the situation, resulting in severe crop losses.
The consequences were experienced most profoundly in the latter half of the year, when tomato shipments dropped to record lows. As a result, the yearly export volume for 2023 did not increase as expected, but rather decreased from the previous year.
Morocco exported almost 660,000 tons of greenhouse tomatoes in 2023, largely to demand from the European Union market. France contributed to half of this quantity, with the United Kingdom taking in around 18% and the Netherlands and Spain purchasing 9% and 6%, respectively.
Outside of Europe, Mauritania emerged as a significant buyer, accounting for 4% of total exports.
However, the export scenario in early 2024 changed slightly as a result of Mauritania’s higher tariffs on Moroccan fruits and vegetables, which caused border delays, restricted commerce, and raised concerns about probable food shortages in the Sahel region.