Prospects for tomato production in the EU in 2023

Expected increase in total EU tomato production in 2023. In 2023, the total production of tomatoes in the European Union is expected to increase by 5% to reach 17 million tonnes, which represents a relative stability compared to the five-year average. Annual production of tomatoes for processing (about 63% of total production) is expected to increase by 8% to reach 10.7 million tonnes, or 6% more than the five-year average according to the European Commission, which looked at the outlook for EU agricultural markets. EU tomato production for fresh consumption is expected to remain stable at around 6.3 million tonnes, 9% below the five-year average. Higher selling prices for growers could partially offset higher production costs, as some Northern and Eastern European countries will plant later in the year, saving energy. However, this could lead to oversupply and increased supply in the market during the summer months. The increased availability of processed tomatoes should lead to ...