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This report highlights the food processing industry, its drivers, key players, and market landscape in the Caribbean Basin. The region relies heavily on imports, and the United States is the largest supplier of food ingredients.

The United States is a major trading partner with the Dominican Republic (DR). The DR is the largest economy in the Caribbean and the seventh-largest economy in Latin America. Since the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) went into effect for the DR in 2007, U.S. agricultural exports to the DR have increased from $1 billion in 2007 to $2 billion in 2024.

In the Caribbean region, sales value in the retail grocery sector increased by 3 percent in 2023. This is due in part to the rise in tourism in many markets, which is boosting economic growth. The largest grocery retail markets are Trinidad and Tobago, Guadeloupe, and the Bahamas.

The government of Morocco has issued a new code of procedures for the importation of animal meal, which previously had no established framework. This regulation now permits the use of animal meal in dog and cat food, opening opportunities for broader applications of rendered products in other animal feeds.

Morocco notified G/SPS/N/MAR/102 on September 29, 2023. The notification concerns Morocco’s draft decree on the quality and safety of marketed sauces.

Sales in the Caribbean retail grocery sector decreased by 1.7 percent in 2022, primarily as the result of closing retail outlets in the French West Indies.

Morocco is a price-sensitive market that does not showcase significant quantities of U.S. food and beverages in the retail sector. In 2022, U.S. exports of consumer-oriented products to Morocco reached $155 million.

Morocco’s food processing sector plays an essential role in the Moroccan economy, accounting for 6 percent of Moroccan GDP and benefits from excellent infrastructure, world-class manufacturing facilities, and convenient access to neighboring African markets.

Morocco notified G/SPS/N/MAR/93 on December 8, 2022. The notification concerns Morocco’s marketing couscous and pasta products. Comments are due no later than February 6, 2023. An unofficial translation is included in this report.

The Caribbean retail grocery sector continued on the upswing in 2021. The region increased its imports of consumer-oriented agricultural products by 14 percent in 2021, reaching an estimated $2.45 billion. The outlook calls for moderate growth as the region continues on the path to recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and markets such as Guyana and Turks and Caicos Islands emerge as larger players in the regional context.

Morocco is a price-sensitive market that does not showcase significant quantities of U.S. food and beverages in the retail sector. In 2021, U.S. exports of consumer-oriented products to Morocco doubled, reaching $166 million. Post has identified limited volumes of U.S. seafood, chocolates, sauces, and spirits available on select Moroccan retail shelves.

Morocco notified G/SPS/N/MAR/84 on May 12, 2022. An unofficial translation is included in this report. Comments are due no later than July 11, 2022. The notification concerns shelf life and storage temperature requirements for cheese and cheese products.