Morocco bans vegetable exports to West Africa to stabilize domestic prices

Published Feb 12, 2023

Tridge summary

Morocco has imposed a ban on the export of tomatoes, onions, and potatoes to West Africa in an effort to prevent a surge in vegetable prices ahead of Ramadan. The decision was made to maintain the country's food security due to a significant increase in tomato prices caused by adverse weather conditions and high production costs. While the ban is expected to stabilize domestic prices, it has been met with opposition from traders, who argue that it will negatively impact their livelihoods. The ban came into effect without prior consultation with traders.

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Original content

The Moroccan export authorities cited the need to maintain the country’s food security following the dramatic rise in tomato prices. Rabat - Morocco imposed a ban on the exports of tomatoes, onions, and potatoes to West Africa in a bid to prevent vegetable prices from surging ahead of Ramadan. Morocco’s food export watchdog reached out to traders by phone and informed them of the measure, according to a Thursday statement by a fresh produce association and a government official, Reuters reported. The Moroccan export authorities cited the need to maintain the country’s food security following the dramatic rise in tomato prices. A Moroccan official who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity said the ban entered into force on Thursday and extends to any truck carrying the vegetables to West African countries. In recent weeks, tomato prices rose drastically on the backdrop of adverse cold weather and the high-production cost due to rising fertilizer prices, leading to low output. ...

Source: MoroccoWorldNews