The novel coronavirus has so far infected more than 70,500 people in China wherein the death toll is rising to nearly 1,800 deaths. In Morocco, tea imports risk a disruption in supply as the North African Kingdom imports annually nearly 70,000 tons of tea from China. According to the Moroccan Association of Tea & Coffee Industrialists, Morocco is China’s major partner in this sector. Chinese tea exporters say the factories are scheduled to reopen next week, but no official decision has so far been announced. However, some Moroccan tea traders affirm that the local market remains resilient thanks to its stockpile that can last up to three months.

Source: The North Africa Journal February 17, 2020 16:41 UTC