EU tomato harvest down, Moroccan and Turkish imports rising

EU tomato production has declined by 6.8% over the last decade, while imports from Morocco and Turkey have increased much faster than domestic output.

Between the 2015–2017 and 2022–2024 periods, the average annual tomato harvest in the EU-27 fell from 6.74 million tons to 6.28 million tons, a decrease of 6.8%. This reduction comes despite an overall 1.9% increase in total EU fruit vegetable production, which has been driven mainly by greenhouse crops and higher yields per hectare.

Spain, the Netherlands, and France have experienced a slight decline in tomato production, while Italy has significantly expanded. The area under tomato cultivation in the EU, however, continues to shrink, contributing to the overall decline in output.

The EU trade balance for tomatoes has shifted from a structural surplus to a deficit. Imports from Morocco and Turkey are growing much faster than domestic production. These countries are strengthening their position as key suppliers to the EU, increasing competition for domestic and other European producers. This trend is affecting supply and price dynamics in the EU’s main tomato markets, including Poland.

Belarus reported a 13.7% increase in tomato production in January–June 2026, up to 22,945 tonnes from 20,185 tonnes in the same period of 2025. The country has also added red tomatoes (excluding cherry and truss types) to its state order list for the off-season period (1 November–30 April), with maximum prices set by the government to secure domestic supply.

Protected-ground tomato production in Belarus showed a downward trend in recent years, with output at 113,743 tonnes in 2021, declining to 103,278 tonnes in 2025. As Belarus increases its domestic supply measures, its export potential to EU countries, including Poland, may be impacted.

Material prepared by the editorial team of fresh-market.info, editor Artur Spiker · Illustrative image generated by AI