Morocco has established itself as the Spanish market's leading supplier of fruits and vegetables. Between January and September 2020, Spanish imports of fresh Moroccan products totaled 597 million euro and 404,116 tons, i.e. 16% more in value and 20% more in volume than in the same period of the previous year, according to data from the Customs Department and Special Taxes.
During the first 9 months of the year, Spain imported 188,040 tons of vegetables worth 220 million euro from the African country. The most outstanding purchases were of green beans with 58,020 tons (+ 2%), tomatoes with 52,291 tons (+ 28%), and peppers with 40,588 tons (-6%).
The Morrocan vegetable import that had the highest increase was the tomato with a 28% growth in volume, adding 52,291 tons, as mentioned above, and a 39% increase in value, totaling 55 million euro; a situation that worries the sector grouped in FEPEX.
Morocco is a direct competitor of Spanish productions both in the national and community markets. The entry of tomatoes at very low prices generates periodic price crises, in an asymmetric competitive scenario in which Community producers must comply with productive, labor, and environmental demands that are not required of third-country producers.
Fruits imports from Morocco in the analyzed period grew by 55% in volume, standing at 216,068 tons, and 29% in value, totaling 376 million euro. The most imported fruits with the highest growth rates were the watermelon, with 88,570 tons (+ 63%); the orange, with 44,331 tons (+ 74%), and the blueberry, with 23,180 tons (+ 86%).
Source: fepex.es