Spanish fresh produce association Fepex has accused Moroccan exporters of provoking a collapse in European tomato prices by ignoring export volume agreements with the EU.
The Madrid-based organisation claimed that Moroccan tomato exporters had send double the 10,600 tonnes permitted by the EU-Morocco agreement of association during October.
In Perpignan’s Saint Charles market in southern France, which accounts for 60 per cent of European tomato imports, Moroccan tomato volumes totalled 14,277 tonnes during the month, according to Fepex.
The association claimed that as a result tomato prices in October dropped below the €0.46 established by the agreement of association.
In a statement, Fepex said: “The high volume of low priced imports has led to the collapse of European (tomato) markets, hugely aggravating the situation of crisis in which we find the whole of the Spanish fresh produce sector.”
