Morocco’s potato imports hit record high amid domestic shortage

Morocco sharply increased its imports of table potatoes in the 2025/26 season due to a domestic supply shortage and high prices. From July 2025 to June 2026, the country imported more than 12 thsd tons of potatoes, the highest volume on record.

The latest figure is 1.5 times higher than Morocco’s total potato imports over the previous five years combined and 2.4 times the previous record set in the 2008/09 season. Purchases accelerated particularly sharply in spring, with March-May accounting for around 78% of total seasonal imports.

The shortage was mainly caused by extreme rainfall and flooding in northern Morocco in January-February 2026. Areas in the Loukkos River basin, one of the country’s key potato-growing regions, were particularly affected. Flooded fields caused some farms to lose their entire crops, sharply reducing domestic supplies.

Almost all imports came from three European countries. The Netherlands supplied more than half of the imported potatoes, France accounted for almost a third, while most of the remainder came from Belgium. European potatoes were particularly competitive due to a large surplus of old-crop supplies and a sharp fall in prices in spring 2026. In the Netherlands alone, the surplus was estimated at around 500 thsd tons.

The record imports therefore resulted from contrasting market conditions: Morocco faced a shortage following crop losses, while Europe accumulated a substantial potato surplus. This allowed Moroccan importers to cover the domestic shortfall with relatively cheap European potatoes while providing EU suppliers with an additional outlet for excess stocks.

Tags: imports, Morocco, potato