Morocco Tomato & Processed Tomato Products Market- Trend Analysis & Forecasts

Market/ Product Overview

Morocco has steadily built its tomato industry over the past decade, with production growing by about 17.4% between 2014 and 2023, rising from ** million tonnes in 2014 to around 1.44 million tonnes in 2023. This performance comes in contrast to declines in many European producing countries. In 2022 the country’s tomato production was recorded at roughly 1.389 million tonnes, up about 5.9% compared to the prior year. Morocco’s strategic geographic location, adjacent to the European market, and the development of modern greenhouse infrastructure in regions such as Souss-Massa facilitate year-round production and export readiness. Fresh tomato exports were valued at over US$ 1.14 billion with ** thousand kg shipped in 2023, illustrating the country’s export strength.

The processed tomato products segment remains less mature but is poised for growth as investment in processing capacity, domestic consumption and value-added lines increases. The combination of strong fresh-tomato supply, favourable trade access to Europe, and rising global demand for processed tomato derivatives sets the stage for Moroccan producers and processors to capture more value. The market’s current annual scale, inclusive of fresh and processed tomato products, can be estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars, with robust growth potential through 2032 as processing capabilities upgrade and domestic consumption climbs.

Significance of Morocco in Global Tomato & Processed Products Supply Chain

Morocco has emerged as a significant player in the global tomato value chain, particularly through its fresh-tomato export volumes and rising processing ambition. With roughly an 11% share of global fresh-tomato exports in 2024, the country stands among the top three global exporters. Its rise is fueled by efficient logistics—especially via ports such as Tanger-Med—and favourable proximity to European markets blending cost-competitiveness with supply reliability. Moroccan producers have capitalised on the decline of production in traditional European supplier countries, enabling Morocco to become the EU’s second-largest tomato supplier in 2024, overtaking Spain. Since processed tomato paste and sauces often rely on concentrate from fresh volumes, Morocco’s fresh supply underpins future processing potential.

The country’s role in the supply chain is further strengthened by its ability to supply during European off-season periods, thereby smoothing global tomato-product availability and helping stabilise supply for major processors. As Moroccan production and export volumes grow, global buyers—particularly for canned tomatoes, tomato paste and diced/pureed tomato formats—are increasingly viewing Morocco as a strategic sourcing base. Hence, Morocco is not only a key fresh-tomato supplier but is moving toward higher-value processed tomato product manufacturing, which will enhance its global supply-chain influence.

Morocco Tomato & Processed Products Supply & Demand Trend

On the supply side, Morocco’s tomato sector benefits from favourable Mediterranean climate zones enabling multiple cropping seasons. The production volume in 2022 reached ** million tonnes, marking a 5.9% year-on-year increase compared to 2021. Acreage expansion and increased greenhouse cultivation are augmenting supply stability and yield improvements. For example, producers targeting snack and cherry tomato formats have expanded direct EU shipments, with fresh-tomato exports of 658.75 million kg in 2023, valued at over US$ 1.14 billion.

On the demand side, export demand is dominant, with ** thousand tonnes exported to the European Union in 2024 (an increase of 17.7% on the previous year) and earnings close to US$ ** million. Meanwhile, domestic demand for processed-tomato products is nascent but expanding—driven by rising urbanization, consumer preference for sauces and convenient foods, and increased usage in African and Middle-East export markets served by Morocco.

The processing side, however, remains less developed relative to fresh exports, creating an emerging gap between high fresh-tomato throughput and relatively lower conversion into processed tomato derivatives such as paste, diced tomatoes or sauces. Logistics strength—via ports and cold-chains—and proximity to EU and African markets enhance export demand, but supply-side constraints such as water availability and labour costs present moderating factors. As the country transitions more volume into processing, supply and demand are expected to converge toward higher value-added products.

Morocco Tomato & Processed Products Market Segmentation

The Moroccan tomato and processed tomato-products market can be segmented along product type, end-use application and geographic distribution. By product type, fresh tomatoes comprise the largest segment—Morocco exported ** thousand tonnes of fresh or chilled tomatoes in 2023 valued at over US$ ** billion—while processed-tomato products (paste, canned diced tomatoes, sauces) represent an emerging but fast-growing slice. Within processed forms, tomato paste and concentrate represent the entry point for many processors, but diced/chopped tomatoes and tomato-based sauces are increasingly in demand, especially for export into Africa, the Middle East and retail segments in Europe.

By end-use application, the segments include food-service (restaurants, catering), retail packaged foods (ketchups, sauces), and industrial usage (ingredient for soups, ready meals). Food-service and retail are seeing rising growth as urbanisation and convenience foods expand in Morocco and export markets. Geographically, export markets dominate: Europe—particularly France, UK, Spain, Netherlands and Germany—are key destinations; in 2023, Morocco exported fresh tomatoes to France with a value of US$ 682.2 million and quantity of 340 thousand tonnes. Regions such as Africa and the Middle East are important for processed-tomato products as Morocco seeks to expand beyond fresh exports. Domestic consumption remains small relative to exports but is expected to grow as processed-tomato product availability and consumer awareness increase. Over the forecast period to 2032, the trend is expected to shift gradually from fresh-tomato dominance toward greater share of processed tomato-products, enabling higher margin capture and diversification of end-use pathways.

Morocco Tomato & Processed Products Trade (Export & Import) Trend

Trade dynamics are central to Morocco’s tomato and processed-tomato product industry. In 2023 Morocco exported fresh or chilled tomatoes worth about US$ 1.14 billion, with 658.75 thousand tonnes shipped globally. Key export partners in 2023 included France, United Kingdom, Netherlands, and Spain. In 2024, the country exported ** thousand tonnes to the EU alone, up 17.7% year-on-year, with earnings close to US$ 999 million.

The processed-tomato product trade is less transparent, but given the established fresh volumes and growing processing ambition, export of paste, sauces and canned tomatoes is set to increase. Imports into Morocco of tomato products remain limited, focusing on specialty items or branded sauces. Tariff regimes between Morocco and the EU benefit Moroccan producers through preferential trade agreements, though regulatory pressures from EU producers and potential measures (such as recalibration of import value calculation) have emerged. Shipping cost fluctuations, labour cost and compliance standards add complexity. The strong link with the EU remains the backbone of trade, though expansions into African and Middle-East export markets are underway, helping diversify partner risk. For processed-tomato products, Morocco is well-positioned to supply cost-effective alternatives into Africa and the Middle East, leveraging favourable trade access and regional proximity.

Influence of Morocco in Global Tomato & Processed Products Price

Morocco’s rise as a major tomato exporter gives it increasing influence on regional and global tomato-product pricing dynamics. As fresh-tomato export volumes to the EU have grown—representing roughly 24% of EU tomato imports when Morocco became the second-largest supplier—Moroccan producers help set competitive price floors for fresh tomato supply during European off-season periods. With export prices per kilogram of tomatoes from Morocco rising from US$ 1.11 in 2017 to US$ 1.37 in 2021, and predictions of USD 1.45–1.53 in 2023–24, Moroccan supplies have pushed importers and European producers to re-examine pricing strategies.

The availability of cost-competitive fresh tomatoes from Morocco helps moderate price spikes in Europe when domestic supply tightens. As the country moves toward processing and export of tomato paste and other derivatives, its cost-efficient production base could similarly influence wholesale pricing of industrial paste—particularly for African and Middle East markets—by offering lower-cost alternatives than European and North American processors. Although Morocco is not yet a dominant global processed-tomato paste supplier, its evolving role suggests that in coming years it may increasingly affect price setting in regional processed-tomato product markets. Any supply disruptions or policy shifts in Morocco (such as drought, labour cost hikes or export constraints) could therefore ripple through pricing structures in neighbouring regions and for value-added tomato products.

Future Outlook

Looking ahead to 2032, the Moroccan tomato and processed-tomato products market is projected to expand significantly, driven by export growth, processing sector maturation and rising domestic consumption. Fresh-tomato production volume is expected to grow at a moderate CAGR of about 2–3% annually through the late 2020s, supported by greenhouse expansion and improved yields, raising production from around ** million tonnes in 2023 toward perhaps ** million tonnes by 2032.

Simultaneously, the processed-tomato products segment (tomato paste, canned diced tomatoes, sauces) is forecast to grow at a faster rate, as Egypt, Africa and the Middle East markets expand their import demand and as Moroccan processors upgrade capacity. Overall market value—from fresh exports plus processed-tomato product sales—is expected to exceed US$ ** billion by 2032, up significantly from current levels. Investor focus is likely to shift toward processing capacity expansion, brand and packaging development, and regional trade diversification beyond Europe. Challenges such as water usage, labour cost inflation and trade regulation will require active management. Nonetheless, Morocco’s competitive cost base, year-round production capability, export-market access and rising processing ambition position the country to move from a fresh-tomato export heavyweight toward a stronger player in value-added processed-tomato products by 2032.