Since the introduction of a new European customs system on October 14, the port of Algeciras has been experiencing delays and bottlenecks in the customs clearance of agricultural products. In the view of many Moroccan berry exporters, the treatment of Moroccan berries at this port goes beyond what can be justified by a period of transition and adaptation to new procedures, an opinion shared in the side discussions at the sixth Morocco Berry Conference, which took place last Thursday in Agadir.
The congestion at the port of Algeciras comes at a time when the Moroccan early fruit season has not yet effectively begun, with the exception of small volumes, and this crisis has particularly affected fish exports. However, since the start of the raspberry season two to three weeks ago, voices have been raised in Morocco, suspecting that the change in customs procedures is being instrumentalized to create a barrier to Moroccan berries, in the context of usual agricultural trade quarrels.
© Interproberries
Mohamed Alamouri, president of Interproberries, the Moroccan interprofession for the soft fruit sector, says: "Moroccan soft fruit exporters are going through a veritable ordeal. Customs clearance for raspberries at the port of Algeciras takes several days, causing spoilage and complaints upon arrival, even though the fruit leaves the country in excellent condition. The port of Algeciras is a vital artery for the export of fresh Moroccan produce to Europe, and we are suffering enormous losses because of this situation."
The exporters' representative specifies that they believe that the delay in customs clearance is not justified, suspecting that this treatment mainly targets Moroccan berries, while other fresh produce, both Moroccan and from other origins, transits through the port smoothly. "We do not understand the reasons for this very unfortunate situation. We met with the port authorities at a meeting in Tangier and expressed our concerns. We have also referred the matter to the Moroccan government and the diplomacy for urgent and collective intervention."
This situation has prompted Interproberries to seek alternative routes for their shipments, according to Alamouri. He explains, "We considered the port of Barcelona to be the most reliable alternative. We know that public services at the port of Barcelona offer more efficient operations. In addition, the port of Barcelona has a more advanced infrastructure, which not only reduces customs clearance times but also lowers the carbon footprint of our products."
The transition to the port of Barcelona also offers a commercial advantage, according to Alamouri: "This port is connected to refrigerated railways that allow our products to travel further and faster, to Eastern European markets, for example."
According to previous industry statements, the Moroccan raspberry season, which began in late October, has seen an increase in production as well as strong demand in European markets. However, the start of the season was marred by customer complaints regarding the quality of the fruit upon arrival.
For more information:
Mohamed Alamouri
Interproberries
Tel: +212537432779
Email: [email protected]
