Italian tomato prices up 15% in H1 2026 amid falling volumes
Italy's average tomato prices rose 15% from January to late June 2026, while sales volumes fell by 6% year-on-year.
In Italy, official retail and wholesale data show that the average mixed price for tomatoes increased by 15% from the beginning of 2026 through the end of June. At the same time, tomato volumes sold declined 6% year-on-year, with sharper drops of -11% in April, -10% in May, and -7% in the last week of June (week 26). The price increase outpaced the reduction in volume, allowing total revenues to remain positive until late June, when a 3% value drop was noted due to further volume decreases and a 2% dip in the average mix price for vegetables overall.
Tomatoes remain the top value category and second by volume among Italian vegetables, but their performance diverges from the broader vegetable sector, which saw a 3% volume growth in the same period. The volume gap between tomatoes and total vegetables widened to 12-14 percentage points in April and May. The persistent supply constraints and higher prices have contributed to reduced consumer demand in Italy and lowered export availability to key European markets, including Poland.
In Sicily, new varieties such as the Datterino FX 3152 F1 are being introduced for summer production. These hybrids are reported to maintain high yields and fruit quality even under high temperatures, with genetic resistance to major tomato viruses. The Carmelian F1 cluster tomato continues to be widely grown in multiple regions, supporting stable supply for the summer export season.
In the Netherlands, greenhouse tomato growers are increasingly adopting advanced insect netting and climate control systems. These technologies, now used on over 30 hectares at Wim Peters Kwekerijen and expanding in the Westland region, allow for more stable production conditions in summer. The adoption of these systems is aimed at maintaining tomato quality and supply reliability for domestic and export markets.
In eastern China, a semi-closed greenhouse facility in Zhejiang is piloting climate-controlled cherry tomato production with automated lighting and soilless cultivation. The focus is on year-round supply to major urban centers. While this project targets the Chinese market, the technology and supply models could influence future competition and production trends for European importers.
The upward trend in Italian tomato prices and reduced export volumes may increase wholesale prices and competition for imported tomatoes in Poland and other Central European markets during the summer of 2026.
Material prepared by the editorial team of fresh-market.info, editor Artur Spiker