Casablanca – In recent years, Morocco has firmly established itself as a key player in the international tomato market, with a particular focus on the Polish market. Over the past three years, the kingdom’s annual tomato exports to Poland have ranged between 30,000 and 36,000 tons, reflecting a significant and sustained presence. This consistent growth is part of Morocco’s broader strategy to expand its agricultural exports to Europe, despite facing domestic challenges such as water stress and adverse weather conditions.

Record performance in 2024

The first half of 2024 marked a new milestone for Moroccan tomato exports to Poland, with 22,000 tons shipped between January and June. This figure highlights the recovery of Morocco’s greenhouse industry, which had faced setbacks in previous years. This resurgence has enabled Moroccan tomatoes to reach a record presence on the Polish market, demonstrating the resilience of the country’s agricultural sector in the face of climate-related difficulties.

Despite weather challenges that reduced overall production in 2023, Morocco managed to export approximately 30,000 tons of greenhouse-grown tomatoes to Poland. While this represented a slight decline from the previous year, it still underscored Morocco’s ability to maintain a dominant position in the market.

Poland: A growing appetite for tomatoes 

Poland, which has seen its demand for tomatoes increase by a third over the past five years, is now ranked as the eighth-largest importer of greenhouse tomatoes globally. In 2023 alone, Poland imported a record 216,000 tons of greenhouse-grown tomatoes, with the first half of 2024 showing a 15% rise in imports compared to the same period last year.

While Poland is working to boost its own domestic production, the country continues to rely heavily on imports to meet its growing demand. Moroccan tomatoes, along with supplies from Turkey, Spain, Germany, and the Netherlands, make up the majority of these imports. Between 92% and 95% of Poland’s tomato imports come from these five countries, with Morocco emerging as a major supplier.

Morocco’s shift to cherry tomatoes 

Morocco has also successfully diversified its tomato exports, with a growing focus on cherry tomatoes. Polish importers have increasingly turned to Moroccan cherry tomatoes, with the kingdom now recognized as a leader in this niche market. Morocco supplies a wide range of cherry tomato varieties, including standard round, plum, Datterini, and grape tomatoes, meeting the needs of the hospitality and restaurant sector (HoReCa) in Poland.

While Turkey has made significant inroads into the Polish market, particularly following weather disruptions in Morocco and Spain in 2023, Turkish suppliers have primarily focused on round red tomatoes. As a result, they have not been able to fully replace Moroccan and Spanish products, allowing Morocco to retain its competitive edge, particularly in the cherry tomato segment.

Future outlook 

As Morocco continues to navigate the challenges posed by climate change and water scarcity, the kingdom remains committed to maintaining and expanding its agricultural exports. With its growing reputation in Europe, particularly in markets like Poland, Morocco’s tomato sector is poised for further growth. The country’s ability to adapt and innovate, particularly in the face of external challenges, has solidified its position as a leading supplier of tomatoes, not only to Poland but across Europe.

In the first quarter of 2024, Morocco even surpassed Spain for the first time in terms of tomato exports to the European Union, highlighting its growing influence in the region’s agricultural landscape.