In W44 in the tomato landscape, according to the World Tomato Processing Council (WPTC), the 2022/23 season presents a challenging tomato processing season due to adverse weather conditions. Italy encountered an unusual and extended season, with 15 factories operating during Oct-23. Italy experienced a fluctuating yield, with some growers reporting high production and others reporting low production.
Heavy rainfall on Sep-30 affected tomato production in Spain, leading to a projected total volume of approximately 2.6 million metric tons (mmt). The region's high temperatures and lack of moisture adversely affected production in Andalusia. In addition, the Almería province is expressing concern over surging tomato imports from countries like Morocco. This trend impacts European tomato production, with a 21.5% reduction in tomato cultivation area and a 22% decline in fresh tomato production in Spain, primarily due to perceived unfair competition from Morocco and Turkey.
Greece produced at almost record levels, but a 15% year-over-year (YoY) decrease due to flooding in Sep-30. The final tomato harvest in Greece is estimated at 390 thousand tons, 11% less than previous forecasts. France's total production is estimated at around 160 thousand mt, while Turkey's production was 2.7 million tons.
In mid-Oct-23, Uzbekistan's tomato prices continued to rise, with pink tomatoes increasing by 50% and red round tomatoes by 43% week-on-week (WoW). In W43, the average wholesale price for pink tomatoes grew from USD 0.98 to 1.47 per kilogram (UZS 12,000 to 18,000/kg, a 2.6-fold increase during Oct-23. Over the past three months, pink tomato prices exceeded last year's levels by 6% YoY. Meanwhile, red round tomato prices surged from USD 0.57 to 0.82/kg (UZS 7,000 to 10,000/kg) in W43, a 2.5-fold increase during the three consecutive weeks of price growth.
As of October 2021, Morocco has officially been free from the Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV), as confirmed by the European Plant Health Authority (EPPO). The initial detection of this virus in the Souss-Massa region later extended to the Dakhla region in 2022, resulting in approximately ten confirmed cases of tomato crop infections during the 2022/23 period, primarily originating from contaminated seeds.
The United States Department of Commerce (USDOC) is set to decide on ending the 2019 Tomato Suspension Agreement, which regulates sales between growers and importers. The suspension agreement controls tomatoes sold in the United States (US) from Mexico, with Florida growers pushing more restrictions on Mexican-grown tomatoes. Since 1996, the US and Mexico have negotiated five separate agreements, with the Florida Trade and Export Association (FTE) advocating for stricter quality control and more enforcement of import pricing. The FTE claims the 2019 Tomato Suspension Agreement isn't working and wants tariffs on all Mexican-grown tomatoes.