The head of Morocco’s main fruit and vegetable exporters’ group has revealed the country restricted tomato exports since late February with a total ban in place from last week until Thursday to lower domestic prices.
The head of the Federation of Moroccan Exporters of Fruits and Vegetables (FIFEL), told journalists that the Agriculture Ministry had agreed on a daily quota of tomato exports last month before stopping all exports from March 18 to 22, with a lower quota of 700 tonnes a day from Thursday.
Higher-priced produce such as cherry tomatoes, which represent more than half of the North African country’s tomato exports, are not included in the restrictions, Aderdour said.
He further revealed that exporters were given a quota of 1000 tonnes but that was less than the usual 1500 tonnes they used to have.
“We are failing to honour our long-term supply contracts,” one trader said, noting that most contracts with British clients are signed a year ahead at fixed prices.
“The credibility of Morocco as a stable tomatoes supplier to both the EU and UK market is at stake,” he added.
The ministry is yet to respond to Reuters calls for comment and did not immediately answer a request for comment.
Morocco’s central bank recently increased its benchmark interest rate for the third time in a row by 50 basis points to 3% as part of measures to fight inflation.
Food inflation jumped to 20.1% last month, bringing general inflation to 10.1%, a level unmatched since the 1980s.