W7: Weekly Tomato Update
Argentina
Weather conditions impact processing tomato season in Argentina, San Juan (Feb 15)
Extreme heat and hail have affected plant yields, which could fall locally to about 90MT/ha, compared to 99MT/ha in 2022. This drop in yield comes at a time when processing tomato acreage has increased.
Japan
The Sharp Upward Trend for Cherry Tomatoes in the Tokyo Market Slowed Down in W6 (Feb 14)
The sharp increase in cherry tomato prices in the Tokyo market appears to be slowing down. From W4-W5, the selling price of cherry tomatoes stood at USD 4.85-6.06/kg. The Tokyo market then had relatively less supply of around 240MT each week, which was smaller by 13% than in 2022 as lower temperatures and snowy weather caused a supply drop. In W6, the price of cherry tomatoes increased to USD 5.35-5.6/kg, and the supply to the Tokyo market rose by 26% WoW. The next upward trend for cherry tomatoes' prices is not expected due to the projected increase in temperature starting in mid-February 2023.
Morocco
UK’s Tomato Supply Dips as Morocco Restricts Exports (Feb 19)
UK's market is experiencing a severe shortage in tomato supplies due to Morocco's decision to restrict supplies to control prices. Several factors contributed to the supply shortage, creating a "perfect storm." These include adverse weather in Spain and Morocco, flooding, cold temperatures, and canceled ferries. Supplies from Spain have also been affected by the weather, leading food services, and catering businesses to receive reduced deliveries as wholesalers resort to spreading out the limited supply. The supply shortages have also affected prices, as they have sky-rocketed rising up to three times than normal levels.
The Shortage of Moroccan Tomato Supplies Causes Great Harm to Britain, UK (Feb 19)
Floods and low temperatures have caused major problems in Britain's supply of Moroccan tomatoes, leading to empty supermarket shelves and discounted deliveries as wholesalers try to distribute the limited supply.
Morocco Reduces Tomato Exports to Curb Inflation (Feb 19)
The Moroccan Administration has decided to restrict the volume of tomatoes for export, and some other fruits and vegetables, to control the sharp rise in prices suffered by its markets. It is only about restrictions on the volume and in several of the destinations of its tomatoes, especially those in the north of the African continent, where the sale of fruit and vegetables has been directly prohibited.
Russia
Russia Imported 5KT of Tomatoes From Turkmenistan (Feb 13)
Since the beginning of 2023, the Moscow region has examined more than 270 vehicles and performed quarantine phytosanitary control on around 5KT of fresh tomatoes that arrived from Turkmenistan. Laboratories examinations performed by experts at the All-Russian Center for Plant Quarantine verified that these goods complied with phytosanitary requirements for quarantine.
The Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation plans to revise the quota for the supply of tomatoes from Turkey after sampling. 315.6KT of tomatoes were imported from Turkey from November 1, 2017 to February 12, 2023, 90.2% of the established quota. If necessary, the department will consider additional stabilization measures, such as changing the parameters of customs and tariff regulation.
Spain
Conventional Vine Tomatoes Last Season Were More Expensive Than Organic in Spain (Feb 14)
Conventional tomatoes sold for more money than organic tomatoes in Spain in 2021/22. The price of the conventional vine tomato stood at USD 1.16/kg (EUR 1.09/kg), which was 4.8% more expensive than the organic variety's cost of USD 1.10/kg (EUR 1.04/kg). The pricing averages for plum tomatoes were essentially different.
50% Loss Estimated in Spanish Cherry Tomato Production for the 2022/23 Campaign (Feb 15)
Due to the high temperatures that affected the production area in the summer of 2022, a 50% loss in cherry tomato production in Spain is expected at the end of the 2022/23 campaign. Additionally, low production during the winter, which is expected to last until W15, also caused prices to skyrocket. In W7, the price for cherry pear tomatoes stood at USD 4.50/kg EXW, an increase of USD 1.07/kg YoY.
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan Is the Main Supplier of Tomatoes to the Tajik Market (Feb 17)
The total volume of exports of tomatoes from Turkmenistan over the past year amounted to 104KT. In Turkmenistan, 712ha of greenhouse areas have been allocated for growing greenhouse vegetables, including tomatoes.
Ukraine
Supply Disruptions Led to Higher Prices for Imported Tomatoes in Ukraine (Feb 14)
A considerable increase in greenhouse tomato demand and a sharp decline in supply on the Ukrainian market have caused another price hike in this specific market. At this time of the year, the primary provider of greenhouse goods to the Ukrainian market is Turkey, but, due to adverse weather over the past several weeks, the supply of greenhouse veggies to international markets has significantly decreased.