'Perfect storm' of Morocco export curb, Spanish trucker protest to create tomato shortage

Combined effect of Morocco’s tomato export curbs, Spain’s haulage strike and lower production by British and Dutch greenhouse producers is now hitting UK retailers and leaving gaps on shelves, states a recent report.

According to suppliers, a ‘perfect storm’ of Spanish trucker protests over the price of fuel, reduced plantings in the UK and the Netherlands due to rocketing gas prices, and a Moroccan export ban to lower domestic prices is creating a European tomato shortage.

According to Alex Margerison-Smith, marketing & insights manager for Keelings International – a major tomato supplier to UK retailers, the impact is being now felt across UK stores.

“We are seeing gaps on the shelves in retailers. Over recent years UK retailers have increased the amount imported from Morocco,” Margerison-Smith told Fresh Produce Journal.

“What is also compounding the situation, is the haulage strike in Spain. Lorry drivers are striking and preventing lorries from leaving due to the cost of fuel.”

Morocco restricted exports of its Europe-bound round tomatoes to ease a pre-Ramadan surge in local prices as it forms a key component of the nation’s cuisine and fast-breaking meals.

Morocco exports about 430,000 tonnes of tomatoes to Europe each year, making it the region's largest outside supplier. However, unprecedented demand due to fall in production has caused the price of one of Morocco’s cheapest fresh staple foods to soar over the past few weeks, stoking domestic protests ahead of Ramadan.

The report comes amid claims that fruit and vegetables face a 30 per cent price rise as a strike by Spanish lorry drivers has disrupted the supply of salad vegetables and soft fruits including tomatoes, peppers and lettuce into Britain.

The industrial action began two weeks ago, but shortages have only now begun to appear on supermarket shelves of Spanish-sourced fresh produce, reports said citing analysts Assosia.

Even if the lorry drivers return to work soon, the supply chain will take ten days to return to normal, importers have said.

Nigel Jenney, CEO of the Fresh Produce Consortium, has predicted cost increases of 20-30 per cent for suppliers.