Morocco's Unprecedented Potato Import Levels Amidst Natural Disasters
In the marketing campaign for 2025/2026, Morocco recorded an astonishing surge in potato imports, driven primarily by the devastating impact of floods that severely affected domestic production. Following significant rainfall that inundated key potato-growing regions, particularly in the Loukkos basin, the country found itself reliant on European suppliers to meet its consumption needs. Reports indicate that Morocco imported over 12,000 tons of fresh consumption potatoes from July 2025 to June 2026, marking a staggering 50% increase compared to the total imports over the past five years and an impressive 2.4 times the previous record set during the 2008/2009 period.
This dramatic increase in imports can be traced back to the floods that struck in January and February 2026, which submerged fields and resulted in total crop losses for many farms. The immediate aftermath of these natural disasters saw a considerable decline in the local potato supply, prompting a spike in imports that peaked in April and May, months that collectively accounted for nearly 80% of the annual total. The European market became the primary source for these imports, with the Netherlands supplying more than half of the shipments, France contributing nearly a third, and Belgium providing the remainder. This influx coincided with a substantial surplus of potatoes in Europe, where prices had plummeted, allowing Moroccan importers to acquire potatoes at lower costs, thereby stabilizing the domestic market while providing a solution for European producers with excess inventory.
As reported by yabiladi.com.
