Customs Delay Crisis: Moroccan Exporters Return to Sea

Moroccan fruit and vegetable exporters have decided to turn their backs on land routes to secure their products in the face of growing transport obstacles. During an emergency meeting in Agadir last weekend, the National Association of Fruit and Vegetable Packers and Exporters analyzed the impact of long customs control times, up to 40 hours per truck, which penalize the freshness and competitiveness of products intended for European markets.

The daily Al-Ahdath Al-Maghribia reports that these excessive controls at border crossings lead to significant financial losses for Moroccan exporters. Due to the prolonged wait, fresh produce, such as fruit and vegetables, risks losing its quality before even reaching the intended European destinations, including Spain, France and the United Kingdom.

To get around these delays which are stifling their activity, exporters are considering going by sea by contracting with a large shipping company with a robust fleet. This maritime solution, which would connect the port of Agadir to the main European markets, aims to drastically reduce transit times, thus preserving the freshness of products and meeting market standards.

Exporters, who ship between 600,000 and 700,000 tonnes of fruit and vegetables a year, hope that sea transport will offer a reliable alternative to long land journeys. This new strategy should also help Moroccan exporters maintain competitive prices, avoiding high costs linked to road delays.

A specialized commission has been created to manage the technical and logistical aspects of this transition to maritime transport. It will work together with the competent authorities to ensure that this option becomes a sustainable solution for the export of Moroccan products, putting an end to a problematic chapter in land exports and allowing Moroccan producers to compete fairly on the European market.

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