News in brief: Morocco has become the UK’s largest tomato supplier, overtaking the Netherlands and Spain, and is now the second-largest tomato supplier to the EU, behind Italy.
Morocco has outpaced the Netherlands and Spain as the largest supplier of tomatoes to the United Kingdom (UK), a news report shows. The North African country has also become the second largest supplier of tomatoes to the European Union (EU), behind Italy.
The Netherlands fell off its perch due to production capacity issues and low competitiveness. Spain, on the other hand, lost out in the race to clinch the UKâs top tomatoes supplier because of challenges in cultivation. The countryâs tomato growers intend to sign agreements with plant breeders, marketing companies and retailers to sell their products on exclusive basis.
Spain has seen most of its production areas for tomatoes recede recently, due to growing competition from Morocco.
Data from the European Commission reveals that total tomato production in the EU fell by 3% in 2022 to 6.2 million metric tons. The EU’s lack of water for irrigation and increased substitution to alternative, more competitive crops with lower financial risk, were the major culprits for the decline.
Meanwhile, Morocco has nearly tripled its tomatoes cultivating land area to almost 14,000 hectares over the past decade. It exported 740,661 tons of tomatoes in 2022 and approximately 557,605 tons of the produce reached their European Markets destination. France, in addition with UK, Spain and Russia are the main buyers of Moroccan tomatoes.
Trade organisations in Europe have long sought to review import rules for Moroccan tomatoes because the increasing import of low-priced tomatoes threatening leading exporting countries like Spain and the Netherlands. The UK imports over $655 million worth of tomatoes annually, making it a key EU market.
Morocco is the sixth largest economy in Africa in terms of GDP and its agricultural sector employs about 40% of the nation’s workforce, making it the largest employer of labour. Oranges, tomatoes, potatoes, olives, and olive oil are its major products with the high quality products heading to Europe. Morocco produces enough food for domestic consumption except for grains, sugar, coffee and tea.
