Morocco plans to limit tomato exports to reduce prices

Morocco will put restrictions on the export of its tomatoes whose prices surged ahead of Ramadan, where demand on the vegetable increases as a main ingredient of the Moroccan cuisine, Moroccan media reported.

The war in Ukraine has raised fears over global food protectionism as Russia halted wheat exports, Argentina banned export registrations for soybean meal, while Indonesia tightened control over palm oil sales and Egypt banned exports of staples like lentils to ensure domestic supply.

Morocco exports 430,000 tons of tomatoes annually to the European countries.

Tomatoes price hike is also to blame on a severe drought that hit Morocco’s main tomato producing region of Souss.

Exports of chickpeas, another key ingredient for Harira, will be banned altogether as stockpiles are at a comfortable levels, Moroccan media reported.