W10 Tomato Update: Russian Greenhouse Vegetable Production Soars, Contrasting Price Trends in Bulgarian Markets

Published 2024년 3월 15일

In W10 in the tomato landscape, Russia's greenhouse vegetable production sees steady growth in 2024, with tomato and cucumber yields showing YoY increases of 1% and 3.9%, respectively. Government support and regional initiatives, particularly in regions like Lipetsk, Moscow, and Kaluga, play a pivotal role in this expansion. Meanwhile, Bulgaria experienced a decline in wholesale prices for imported cucumbers and tomatoes, dropping by 29.2% and 17.9% YoY, respectively, by March 1, 2024. However, cabbage and potato prices showed modest increases, suggesting a potential reliance on imports for certain vegetables due to challenges faced by domestic producers.

Russian Greenhouse Vegetable Production Maintains Upward Trend in 2024

Russia's greenhouse vegetable production continues to exhibit positive growth in 2024. Continued government support and regional initiatives are expected to play a crucial role in the sector's long-term expansion.

As of February 13, 2024, Russia's greenhouse vegetable production reached 135 thousand metric tons (mt), reflecting a year-on-year (YoY) increase of 1.6%. Tomato production witnessed a 1% YoY rise, reaching 59.4 thousand mt, while cucumber production saw a YoY growth of 3.9%, reaching 73.4 thousand mt.

The Lipetsk, Moscow, Kaluga, Volgograd, Novosibirsk, and Tyumen regions, along with Krasnodar and Stavropol Krais, the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, the Chechen Republic, and the Republics of Bashkortostan and Tatarstan are leading the growth in greenhouse vegetable production. A range of government support measures are facilitating the development of greenhouse vegetable production in Russia. In addition to federal support, some regions are implementing supplementary initiatives to bolster their greenhouse vegetable production sector further. This aligns with the federal project for the advancement of the vegetable and potato-growing industries.

Early Mar-24 Saw Declining Prices for Cucumbers and Tomatoes in Bulgaria

Wholesale prices for key vegetables in Bulgaria exhibited a downward trend at the beginning of Mar-24 compared to the same period in 2023. Imported cucumbers saw a significant price decline of 29.2% YoY, reaching USD 1.72 per kilogram (kg) on March 1, 2024, compared to USD 2.43/kg in Mar-23. This downward trend is further supported by a weekly price decrease from USD 1.85/kg at the end of Feb-24. Tomato prices also experienced a YoY decrease of 17.9%, with a wholesale price of USD 1.82/kg on March 1, 2024, down from USD 2.22/kg in Mar-23.

While cucumbers and tomatoes witnessed price decreases, an opposing trend for cabbage was observed, with a 43.8% YoY price increase. Similarly, potatoes exhibit a modest increase of 9.2% YoY. The State Commission for Commodity Exchanges and Markets (DKSBT) data suggests a potential absence of significant domestic greenhouse vegetable production recently due to the challenges faced by domestic greenhouse producers in the absence of heating subsidies. This implies reliance on imports, which could be influenced by external factors.