1. Weekly News 

India

Government Intervenes to Curb Tomato Price Surge After Himachal Pradesh Rains

Heavy rains in Himachal Pradesh damaged both tomato crops and transportation networks. As a result, the supply to key markets in the Delhi NCR region has been severely disrupted, causing a sudden price surge. In response, the government plans to intervene by procuring tomatoes from southern India and selling them at a subsidized price of less than USD 0.58 per kilogram (kg) through the National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India (NCCF) and National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED). This initiative is expected to begin in the second week of Jul-25 to curb the high prices.

Australia

Australian Tomato Processor Turns to Cosmetics Amid Import Squeeze

Facing intense pressure from cheap imports that have squeezed the local market, Australia's processed tomato industry is struggling, with a declining number of growers. In response, Kagome, the country's largest tomato processor, is pivoting to create new revenue streams from its by-products. Instead of treating tomato skin and seeds as waste for livestock feed, the company is now cold-pressing the seeds to produce valuable oil for the cosmetics industry and creating a powder from the skins for pet food. This diversification strategy has already reduced the company's reliance on the volatile tomato commodity market, by generating new revenue from these upcycled by-products, specifically cosmetic oil and pet food powder, and aims to process 100% of its by-products by 2027.

Australia and New Zealand Assess GM Purple Tomato for Food Approval

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is currently evaluating an application from Norfolk Healthy Produce Inc. to approve a genetically modified (GM) purple tomato for use as food. The tomato has been engineered to produce high levels of anthocyanins, the same antioxidants found in blueberries, which gives it its distinct purple color. The safety assessment is being conducted jointly with Health Canada. Crucially, the application is only for the tomato to be sold and eaten; separate approvals would be required for commercial cultivation or the importation of seeds in either Australia or New Zealand. A public submission period will be opened if the initial assessment is favorable.

Brazil

New Tomato Seeds Offering in Brazil Target Farmer Profitability and Resilience

At Hortitec 2025, an agricultural event for Brazil's vegetable industry, seed company HM.CLAUSE is launching four new vegetable cultivars. Its star product, the Stony tomato is a new hybrid designed for high productivity, firmness, and a long shelf life of over 18 days, with crucial disease resistance for tropical climates. Other new products include Luigi, a round, disease-resistant tomato; Phar Lap broccoli, suitable for winter planting; and Parcero pepper, a hybrid with strong disease resistance. The company's strategy focuses on developing robust seeds that perform well in challenging conditions, such as high heat and long transport, thereby increasing farmer profitability. They emphasize their collaborative approach, which includes extensive field trials and strong after-sales support for producers.

New Fungicide Product Launched for High-Value Crops

Sipcam Nichino Brasil is launching Soleado®, a new boscalid-based fungicide with preventive and systemic action. It is primarily aimed at managing diseases in high-value crops, such as potatoes, coffee, and tomatoes. Field trials have demonstrated high efficacy, achieving 93-95% control of black spots in tomatoes and exhibiting strong performance controlling Phoma leaf spot, also known as dieback, which can cause losses of up to 60% of the crop. The product, which is also registered for use on various other vegetables and fruits, is designed to be selective, meaning its specific mode of action targets key biological processes in the disease-causing fungi, thereby controlling them without harming the crop plant, easy to apply, and effective in managing pathogen resistance.

2. Weekly Pricing

Weekly Tomato Pricing Important Exporters (USD/kg) 

Yearly Change in Tomato Pricing Important Exporters (W27 2024 to W27 2025) 

Mexico

In W27, Mexico’s wholesale tomato prices rose to USD 1.21/kg, reflecting a 35.96% week-on-week (WoW) increase. Despite this spike, prices were down 21.43% month-on-month (MoM) and 45.00% year-on-year (YoY). Typically, tomato prices tend to decline during this period in Mexico. However, the recent surge was influenced by uncertainty around potential new tariffs. Additional pressure came from tight supply conditions, as Mexican growers have reduced investment in production while seeking new markets, along with continued seasonal demand.

Morocco

In W27, Morocco’s tomato prices declined to USD 0.34/kg, marking a 5.56% WoW drop. However, prices remain elevated, up 17.24% MoM and 13.33% YoY. Despite the recent drop, prices remain relatively high due to ongoing bad weather, especially drought, which continues to affect production.

Turkey

In W27, Turkey's wholesale tomato price was USD 1.01/kg, unchanged WoW, but reflected a 0.98% decrease MoM and 3.06% increase YoY. Although prices remained stable on a weekly comparison and relatively on a monthly basis, a YoY price hike indicated increased demand as a crucial factor. According to the Antalya Commodity Exchange's Jun-25 market data, tomatoes experienced a substantial annual increase in the quantity traded. Tomato supply in Turkey has been increasing due to ongoing harvest from greenhouses, and so far, demand outpacing supply. 

France

In W27, France’s tomato price remained on par with previous WoW levels at USD 1.94/kg while increasing 26.80% MoM and 27.63% YoY. Since one in three tomatoes is of import origin in France, and Morocco's tomato volumes are up to 400,000 metric tons (mt) annually, competition is intense in the French tomato market. For example, 250 grams (g) of Moroccan cherry tomatoes sell for USD (EUR 0.99), half the price of their French equivalents. A strong supply of fresh tomatoes, combined with balanced demand, kept WoW prices unchanged in W27. On the other hand, input and especially labor costs, which can go between 40 and 60% of tomato production price, pushed up wholesale prices MoM and YoY.

3. Actionable Recommendations

Diversify Sourcing to Mitigate Climate and Logistical Disruptions 

The Indian government's emergency procurement from the south to stabilize prices in the north—disrupted by heavy rains—highlights the extreme vulnerability of relying on a single production region. Importers and distributors should prioritize diversifying their sourcing locations, even within the same country, to mitigate risks and ensure a stable supply chain. Building relationships with suppliers in different climate zones can provide a crucial buffer against localized weather events, ensuring a more stable supply chain.

Explore By-Product Innovation to Counter Market Pressure

Kagome Australia's strategy of turning tomato skins and seeds into high-value cosmetic oil and pet food is a powerful response to being squeezed by cheap imports. Processors in other competitive markets should evaluate their waste streams for similar value-added opportunities. This approach not only creates new, potentially more profitable revenue streams but, at the same time, reduces reliance on the volatile fresh or processed commodity market.

Invest in Resilient Ag-Tech to Protect Profitability

The launch of new, robust seed varieties and targeted fungicides in Brazil underscores a critical trend. As growers face increasing pressure from extreme weather and resilient pests, investing in agricultural technology (Ag-Tech) is essential. Producers should actively seek out new cultivars designed for heat tolerance and disease resistance, as these can directly increase marketable yield, improve fruit quality, and ultimately safeguard income against growing environmental challenges.

Sources: Tridge, The Economic Times-India, Agrolink, ABC-Australia