W12: Weekly Tomato Update

Türkiye

Dramatic Increase in Tomato Exports in 2022 in Türkiye (Mar 21)

Revenue from tomato product exports doubled and increased 2.5 times compared to the pre-Covid period in 2022 in Turkey.

Belgium

Tomato Price Back at 2022 Level, Strawberry Price Drops Through Five-Year Average in Belgium (Mar 21)

The average tomato prices at the VBT and Association of Belgian Horticultural Cooperatives are still high, with an average of 2.57 euros for a kilo of vine tomatoes and USD 2.61/kg (EUR 2.40/kg) of loose tomatoes. Prices are still well above the five-year average, with an average of USD 2.80/kg (EUR 2.57/kg) of vine tomatoes and USD 2.61/kg (EUR 2.40/kg) of loose tomatoes.

Hungary

Tomatoes Expected Quantities and Prices (Mar 20)

The WPTC (World Processing Tomato Council) released its first official forecast for 2023 in mid-February 2023. According to the organization, 41.8M tons of tomatoes expects to be processed in the world, 10% more than in 2022.

Italy

Industrial Tomato, Price Negotiation Stopped in Italy (Mar 20)

The negotiations between the agricultural and industrial sides for the definition of the Framework Agreement for the management of the next tomato processing campaign have resumed. The industrial part has confirmed its commitment to recognize a 20% increase in the average reference price, leading to a 40% increase in the two years 2021-2023. Marco Serafini, President of ANICAV, believes that an excessive increase in the cost of the raw material will have repercussions on the transformed product and, consequently, on the final consumers.

Morocco

Frost Reduces Tomato Production in Morocco (Mar 22)

The Moroccan association, which represents vegetable producers and exporters, reported a sharp decline in tomato production due to low temperatures at the beginning of 2023. 80% decrease in the tonnage collected daily due to temperature drops of 1-6°C. However, the situation has improved with temperatures ranging from 13-18°C at night and 17-27°C during the day, meaning the end of winter and the return to normal production. Production expects to return to normal levels by mid-April 2023.

Morocco Restricts Tomato Exports Due to High Domestic Prices (Mar 24)

Morocco has restricted tomato exports since the end of February, with a total ban in place from W11 until March 23, 2023. Lahoucine Aderdour, head of the Federation of Moroccan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters (FIFEL), said the agriculture ministry had agreed to a daily tomato export quota last month before halting all exports from March 18-22, 2023 with a lower quota of 700 tons per day from March 23, 2023.

Souss Farmers Are Pressing for Permission to Export Tomatoes in Morocco (Mar 24)

Four professional organizations in the Souss-Massa region decided to withdraw from the committee entrusted with tracking agricultural production and supply conditions in protest against the Ministry of Agriculture suspending the export of Moroccan tomatoes abroad.

Netherlands

Dutch Tomatoes Tower Above Them With a Peak Price in February 2023 in the Netherlands (Mar 21)

In February 2023, tomato prices were extreme, with an average kilo price of over USD 4.89 (EUR 4.50) and a 171% increase compared to January 2023. The Netherlands stands out with the highest prices and most extreme price increases.

Nigeria

Kano Tomato Farms Under Pest Attack in Nigeria (Mar 26)

The leadership of tomato farmers in Kano State has said that tomato plantations in some places across the state have been attacked by pests suspected to be tuta absoluta, one of the most devastating pests affecting tomato crops in the world.

Poland

In Poland, the Season of Local Tomatoes Started a Month Late (Mar 22)

In W12, tomatoes from local greenhouses began to go on sale in the Polish wholesale market, despite a delay of almost a month. In 2022, the first batches of Polish greenhouse tomatoes appeared on the market on February 20, 2023, with a cost of USD 4.59/kg.

Russia

Sanctions Call Into Question Further Growth in Tomato Production in Russia (Mar 20)

The import of tomato seeds for protected ground in Russia is a major issue due to sanctions. Over the past seven years, the production of protected ground tomatoes has almost doubled, and market capacity has increased by 46%. Azerbaijan is the leader in the supply of tomatoes in 2022, replacing imports from Turkey due to sanctions. Greenhouse cucumber production has increased by 60%, and market capacity has increased by 22%. Self-sufficiency in onions among borscht vegetables is at the lowest levels.

In Russia, More Than 17KT of Fresh Tomato From Turkmenistan Were Controlled So Far in 2023 (Mar 20)

The Russian market receives a significant supply of fresh tomatoes from Turkmenistan, and since 2023, the Office of the Rosselkhoznadzor for the city of Moscow, the Moscow, and Tula regions has conducted quarantine phytosanitary control of 17KT of fresh tomatoes that entered the territory of the Moscow region from Turkmenistan.

Spain

In Spain, the Canarian Government Pays 5.6M to Winter Tomato Producers (Mar 21)

The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the Canary Islands has paid USD 6.1M (EUR 5.6M) to traditional winter tomato producers for the 2022 campaign. It includes aid for the hectare for USD 5.8M (EUR 5.3M) and reconversion for USD 328.50 (EUR 302K). This aid will be paid three years after the reconversion, to five.