Spain’s imports of fruits and vegetables from Morocco have surpassed one billion euros, sparking controversy among Spanish farmers.
In recent years, Spain’s imports of Moroccan produce have seen a notable increase, rising from 805 million euros in 2021 to over 1.07 billion euros currently, which accounts for a quarter of the total imports of such products in the country.
This upward trend continued at the start of 2025, with imports rising by 28% in the first quarter of this year, reaching 672 million euros, while the quantities imported showed a growth of 26%, exceeding 254,000 tons. Moroccan tomatoes topped the list of imported products, symbolizing a key aspect of agricultural trade between the two nations.
Experts attribute this strong performance to lower production costs compared to European countries, alongside Moroccan farmers benefiting from European support programs like the “Terre Verte” initiative, aimed at boosting agricultural production in neighboring countries to secure food security within the European Union.
However, this expansion has not been without its repercussions. Several Spanish farmers, particularly in the regions of Andalusia and Almería, have expressed concerns over what they describe as “unfair competition,” criticizing the lack of customs oversight and the absence of stringent enforcement of the agricultural partnership agreement between Morocco and the EU, which stipulates conditions to protect local production. They are calling for intervention from the Spanish government and EU institutions to ensure fair competition between European producers and their counterparts from neighboring countries.
