Over the past 20 years, Morocco has significantly increased its tomato exports to the United Kingdom, with sales growing by 98 times. Meanwhile, Almeria's shipments have decreased by 32.43%, and the Canary Islands have almost completely exited the British market, experiencing a 99.95% decline. This data comes from COMTRADE, the UN Statistics Division, and the Estacom statistical service (Icex-Tax Agency), focusing on imports under TARIC code 0702 for Almeria and the Canary Islands, as analyzed by Hortoinfo.
In 2005, Spain was the top seller in the British market with 182.68 million kilos sold. It lost this position in 2007, briefly regained it in 2008, and finally ceded it in 2009 to the Netherlands. By 2021, Morocco surpassed Spain, selling 110.8 million kilos against Spain's 66.2 million.
Moroccan exports increased from 1.4 million kilos in 2005 to 134.8 million kilos in 2024, even surpassing the Netherlands in 2022 when Morocco shipped 144.3 million kilos compared to the Netherlands' 124.2 million. However, in 2023, the Netherlands took first place again, and in 2024, it sold 147.4 million kilos versus Morocco's 134.8 million.
The Canary Islands, historically a major supplier, decreased their exports from 73.14 million kilos in 2005 to only 39,480 kilos in 2024. Meanwhile, Almeria reduced its exports from 34.17 million to 23.09 million kilos over the same period. Until 2017, Almeria surpassed Morocco in sales to the UK, but that year Morocco significantly increased its shipments and steadily narrowed the gap.
Source: hortoinfo.es
