Moroccan producers condemn growing influx of Tunisian dates as unfair competition

MOROCCO – The Moroccan date industry is raising alarms over the growing volume of Tunisian date imports, warning that the surge is harming local producers, reducing quality standards, and putting jobs at risk.

According to farmers and trade representatives, the high entry of Tunisian dates into the Moroccan market has upset the balance between local production and consumer demand.

Abdelbar Belhassan, president of the Moroccan Federation for the Commercialization and Valorization of Dates and a member of the National Interprofessional Federation of Date Chains, said the situation is becoming increasingly difficult for local producers.

“Moroccan consumers also tend to consume local products, but the entry of imported fruits, including Tunisian ones, in quantities that exceed demand will cause a recession in the market,” Belhassan told Hespress.

He added that excess imports have led to growing stockpiles, lowering prices and weakening domestic sales. “This situation results in excess stockpiles, creating unfair competition for Moroccan producers. Tunisian dates, for instance, are processed dates with lower nutritional value than local Moroccan dates. As a result, selling these dates in large quantities endangers the livelihoods of Moroccan palm growers,” Belhassan stated.

Calls for trade controls

Belhassan has urged the government to take immediate action to protect Moroccan farmers. “A ban on the entry of imported dates into Morocco, which cannot become a market for those who do not have one, or at least limit the quantities coming from open markets with which Morocco has free trade agreements, such as the Tunisian market,” he said. He also called for stronger quality checks to ensure fair trade practices and maintain consumer trust.

The claims have sparked a wider debate on market fairness and agricultural policy. Moroccan producers say the lower-quality dates being sold as Tunisian are sometimes suspected of coming from Algeria, creating confusion among consumers.

They argue that this practice damages the image of locally grown dates, which have long been recognized for their taste and nutritional value.

Broader regional impact

The issue comes as North African countries continue to compete in the date export market, which plays a key role in rural employment and trade revenue. In recent months, regional trade tensions have grown over agricultural exports and labeling practices.

Industry observers say the Moroccan government may face pressure to review import regulations, especially during peak harvest seasons.

For now, farmers are urging immediate protection for the local date sector before the upcoming end-of-year sales period, when imported products typically flood the market.

As Belhassan concluded, “Morocco must protect its farmers and consumers by ensuring that local products remain competitive and that imported goods meet the same standards.”

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