W8: Weekly Tomato Update
Turkey
Tomato Prices Rise in Ukraine Due to Lack of Supplies From Turkey (Feb 22)
The supply of greenhouse tomatoes on the Ukrainian market has reduced in W8. Most of the greenhouse complex officials in Ukraine stated that they intend to begin large-scale tomato sales at the end of March 2023. The foreign market's supply of these goods also fell during the same period. The primary cause of this was a decrease in the availability of tomatoes from Turkey.
United States
Short Supply of Mexican Roma Tomatoes During W7 in the United States Due to Cold Weather (Feb 21)
In W7, the volume of Roma tomatoes arriving from Sinaloa to the United States continues to face a shortage due to cold weather in the northern region of Mexico. The supply is not meeting the constant demand. Prices quoted for sizes JB/XL at USD 13-15/25lbs. The Mexican region forecasts cold weather for W8 and lower product availability is expected.
Azerbaijan
Greenhouses in Azerbaijan Increase Tomato Production by Almost 8% In 2022 (Feb 21)
In Azerbaijan, the volume of tomatoes grown in greenhouses amounted to 369,337KT in 2022, which is 7.6% higher than in 2021. In 2022, there were 3,154 greenhouses in Azerbaijan (a decrease of 2%) with a total area of 1.6Kha (minus 5.9%). In greenhouses in 2022, 28.874KT were also grown.
Bangladesh
Oversupply of Tomatoes Causes Price Drop and Losses for Bangladesh Producers (Feb 21)
Tomato producers in Bangladesh are experiencing losses due to an oversupply of the crop in local markets, which is typical for this time of the year. Due to this, they have to sell the tomatoes for USD 0.02/kg (BDT 2/kg) while it retails for USD 0.28/kg (BDT30/kg). Producers in the southwest division of Khulna, Bangladesh, do not have efficient systems and all plants at the same time, causing the oversupply, local experts say.
Germany
Germany Prefers Small Tomatoes but Pays More for Big Flavorful Ones (Feb 21)
Germany is the largest destination for fresh tomato exports from Almería and Spain since the primary competitor, the Netherlands, experienced a drop in production, which is the Netherlands. Germans prefer small-sized cherry or cherry tomatoes.
Global
WPTC 2023 Preliminary Tomato Crop Forecast in the World (Feb 21)
The WPTC established a preliminary prediction of 41.8MMT of tomatoes to be processed globally in 2023 during its board meeting on February 14 in Sacramento.
Italy
Prices of Tomatoes Fly at High Altitudes in Italy (Feb 21)
Due to a decrease in the supply of tomatoes from the Sicilian countryside, tomato prices are still rising, especially for the red types. Poor weather has destroyed many crops, reducing their availability hence, it caused the high cost of production. A very high trend of prices for cherry tomatoes and datterino tomatoes. Consistent selling prices also apply to the Italian red bunch, which likewise carries the selling prices of the imported good.
Moldova
Greenhouse Tomato Production May Sharply Decrease in Moldova (Feb 23)
Moldova will grow tomatoes in greenhouses in 2023 on a maximum of one to three hundred hectares, depending on the type and degree of manufacture. In previous years, the total area of protected ground plantations in Moldova fluctuated between 1-1.5kha, of which up to 60% fell to tomatoes. EastFruit analysts identify two main problems that predetermined this state of affairs on the eve of the new sales season.
Morocco
Tomato Prices Drop By USD 0.19-0.39 (Mad 2-4) In the Wholesale Market in Inezgane, Morocco (Feb 23)
In Morocco, the government's measures have enabled a decrease in tomato prices between USD 0.19-0.39 (Mad 2-4), at the wholesale market in Inezgane. The Prime Minister has confirmed that prices of food products, including tomatoes and vegetables in general, meat, and table oil, have already begun to decline and will continue to decline in the coming days until they reach their normal levels before the month of Ramadan.
The increase in tomato prices in Morocco is due to the cold wave that the Kingdom experienced, which affected the crops of some vegetables, especially tomatoes. Al-Aris Al-Sarghini, the advisor to the Moroccan Association of Producers and Exporters of Vegetables and Fruits, confirmed that the cold weather caused a reduced production by about half, which caused an increase in prices due to the decline in the supply of this substance in the market. However, the price increase is not because of their export abroad, as half of the production is allocated to supply the internal market, and the other half is directed to export.
New Moroccan Export Quotas Will Halve Tomato Prices on the Domestic Market (Feb 24)
Morocco is imposing quotas on tomato exports to boost local supplies and lower prices before the fasting month of Ramadan. Rising input prices, pest attacks, and repeated droughts have combined to hamper production at the world’s fourth-largest tomato shipper. However, the restrictions on Morocco’s packing factories could exacerbate the produce shortfalls that have already sparked rationing at some European supermarkets.
Moroccan Unions Blame Adverse Weather for Tomato Shortage Exports to UK (Feb 26)
In response to the tomato shortage in the UK, two Moroccan associations of vegetable growers, packers, and exporters explained that the significant decline in tomato shipments to the UK was caused by climate change.
Russia
Russia Is Contemplating to Increase Tomato Import Quote From Turkey and Decrease Import Taxes (Feb 21)
Since the beginning of February, the kilogram price of cucumber has increased by 15.3% while the kilogram price of tomatoes has increased by 11.8% in the Russian wholesale market. If the increase in the retail prices of tomatoes and cucumbers in Russia continues, the Ministry of Agriculture is considering reducing the customs duties on these products to relieve the consumer. In Russia, 10 and 15% of import duty are levied on tomatoes and cucumbers, respectively. It is also stated that the tomato import quota from Turkey may be increased. The annual quota is currently at 300K MT for tomato imports from Turkey.
In Russia, Two Lots of Cherry Tomatoes Coming From China Were Infected With ToBRFV (Feb 22)
On February 18 and 19, 2023, specialists from the Department of Phytosanitary Research of the Amur Reference Center of Rosselkhoznadzor discovered a dangerous pathogen on two lots of cherry tomatoes imported from China, with a combined weight of more than 1.2KT. This pathogen was the tomato brown rugose virus. Chlorosis, deformation, blistering, brown spots, marbling, wrinkling, and irregular fruit ripening were observed in infected batches.
Spain
Cautious Drop in Price of Spanish Bell Peppers While Tomatoes Are Still ‘Durable' (Feb 20)
After bizarrely high prices for Spanish greenhouse vegetables in W7, the prices of various vegetables have finally dropped again in W8. The tomatoes are still 'durable' as prices remained the same for cherry tomatoes and Turkish vine tomatoes.
Cost of Greenhouse Tomato Production Up by 34% in Almería, Spain (Feb 21)
Agricultural production costs have risen continuously since the beginning of the energy crisis, making intensive production in greenhouses more vulnerable to fluctuations in Almeria, Spain. It has caused tomato producers to increase production costs by 34%, with labor accounting for 40%, fertilizers for 13%, and phytosanitary products for 11%.
United Kingdom
Tomatoes Are Out of Stock in the UK (Feb 21)
The UK market is experiencing a shortage of tomato supplies due to the difficulties of Spain and Morocco production. A combination of bad weather in Spain and Morocco, flooding, and cold temperatures have contributed to declining tomato supplies in the UK. In North African countries, growers and suppliers have been dealing with a "perfect storm" of cold temperatures, heavy rains, flooding, and canceled ferries, all of which have seriously affected tomato quantities destined for Britain. The shortages have also influenced prices, which have skyrocketed to triple the reference levels for the period.
UK Faces Shortages Due to Import Problems, Where Are the Tomatoes? (Feb 21)
Britain is experiencing a tomato shortage due to the agricultural problems in southern Europe that hampered supplies to shops, including market leader Tesco and number two Sainsbury's. According to supermarkets, the issue was made worse by lower winter production in greenhouses in the UK and the Netherlands due to high energy costs.
UK’s Britain Warns of the Risk of a Shortage of Tomatoes and Cucumbers Due to the Crisis (Feb 21)
The United Kingdom may face a shortage of tomatoes, cucumbers, and cauliflower in supermarkets amid a crisis in the agricultural sector due to high inflation in the country.
British Stores Limit Each Citizen to Buy Only Two Moroccan Tomatoes (Feb 22)
Several supermarkets in the United Kingdom have put restrictions on shoppers' purchases of some fruits and vegetables due to "supply challenges" caused by weather conditions in southern Europe and North Africa. The UK was suffering from a shortage of tomatoes only, but the short supply affected other types of fruits and vegetables, which prompted retailers to impose restrictions on sales.
Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan Exported Significantly More Tomatoes in 2022 (Feb 23)
Turkmenistan sold 104KT of tomatoes to Russia and other nations in 2022. It is a huge increase from 2021 when Turkmenistan became the top four greenhouse tomato suppliers in the RF and took over as the primary supplier to Tajikistan, where the first Turkmen tomatoes were shipped in 2020.
