Over the last few weeks, fewer Moroccan cherry tomatoes have reached the European market. Yet volumes are abundant in Morocco, where growers are recording a production peak. Oumaima Ibnoutabet, Area Export Manager at ô Fresh, explains FreshPlaza the situation.
The exporter says: “March saw a slowdown in overall exports from Morocco. The reason is not a lack of production on our part, but rather a slowness of operations in most of packing houses during Ramadan. The month of Ramadan means shorter working hours and a shortage of labor. This situation will last until the first week of April, and we expect to be back to normal operations by the middle of next week.
“We are currently harvesting large quantities, especially in elongated cherry tomatoes. Variations in the climate have led to an increase in yields from March 15 onwards, instead of the usual April. This is a phenomenon we’ve observed over the last two seasons,” Ibnoutabet adds.
The drop in Moroccan exports to Europe has created a gap in the market, especially in Germany, as reported by the Moroccan specialized media AgriMaroc. The exporter comments, “Demand is clearly high. We are receiving many requests from various markets in Western and Eastern Europe. We’ll be ready to meet these requests with programs available as early as next week.”
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This period also sees an increase in the price of cherry tomatoes on the shelves.”Despite the high demand, I haven’t raised my prices during Ramadan, since volumes are high.It’s just a matter of a few days before the market returns to normal,” she concludes.
Morocco is home to an impressive variety of high-value fruits and vegetables, many of which hold strong potential in international markets. Moroccan produce stands out for its quality, unique seasonality, and growing global demand. Recognizing this potential, the FAO/EBRD-led project and FoodEx Morocco will organize a trade mission in April 2025, connecting Moroccan fruit and vegetable exporters with Southeast Asia—a region experiencing steady growth in fresh and frozen produce imports. This initiative will provide a valuable platform for Moroccan producers to explore new opportunities, expand their market reach, and strengthen trade partnerships in this dynamic region.
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