Algeria aims to become a major player in the global tomato market

Algeria is embarking on an ambitious race to become a tomato exporting country, a position currently dominated by Morocco. According to a recent analysis by Jeune Afrique, this aspiration comes in a context where the global tomato market is mainly dominated by the Netherlands, Spain and Morocco, the latter representing nearly 9% of global exports. Currently, Algeria does not have a base of tomato producers capable of competing with its competitors. Among the few players present, the Tahraoui group cultivates tomatoes on an area of 400 hectares in Biskra, while the Souakri group produces cherry tomatoes on an area of 1,000 hectares in the M’Ghair desert. These initiatives, although promising, illustrate the scale of the challenge that Algeria must face to become one of the world leaders in the sector. Algeria has come a long way. Moroccan tomato exports reached around 660,000 tonnes in 2023, this represents 18.6% of tomato exports to the European Union, positioning Morocco as the ...