Tomato prices fall in Italy, processing supply hit in Spain and Tunisia
Wholesale tomato prices in Italy remain low at €1.0/kg for cluster types, while Spanish and Tunisian processing tomato supplies are under pressure due to heat and power issues.
In Italy, wholesale prices for cluster tomatoes ('il grappolo') have stagnated at €1.0/kg in late July 2026. Premium Sicilian varieties such as 'datterino' maintain higher price levels, but mainstream offerings from Lazio and Fondi have seen declines, with Lazio's 'pixel' type dropping to €1.5/kg. Quality issues are reported, attributed to climatic fluctuations and high temperatures, which have also challenged production in the Netherlands and affected the quality of Dutch tomatoes.
In Spain, the main producing region for industrial tomatoes, Extremadura, expects a 10% decrease in total output compared to contracted volumes, due to intense heat during July. The cultivated area for this campaign is nearly 20,700 hectares. Early-harvested tomatoes are already showing significant quality and yield losses, while medium-season crops are forecasted to fall by about 15%. High night temperatures—sometimes near 30°C—are cited as a primary factor, causing poor fruit set, lower fruit weight, and increased blossom-end rot. This situation may reduce supply for both domestic and export processing markets, including Poland.
Tunisia faces severe supply chain interruptions in the tomato processing sector. Repeated power cuts during the late July heatwave have forced most processing plants in the Cap Bon region to halt or limit operations. Only 5-6 out of 14 factories are currently functioning, reducing their intake from growers at the peak processing period. Farmers are also unable to irrigate properly, leading to crop losses and delays in deliveries, with the risk that a significant share of the harvest may be lost. Reports indicate that around 35% of Tunisia's tomato crop is at risk.
Turkey exported 18,301 tonnes of dried tomatoes in January–June 2026, earning €56.3 million (USD 60.99 million) with Italy as its second-largest buyer after the USA. Turkish producers report abundant supply this year and are targeting €92.3 million (USD 100 million) in dried tomato exports by year-end. Dried tomatoes from Turkey are widely used in Italian food manufacturing, including pasta and sauces, and are present in European retail supply chains.
In the Spanish region of Valencia, research programmes are underway to improve traditional tomato varieties for better adaptation and yield. These initiatives aim to strengthen the region's commercial offering by enhancing quality and productivity for local and export markets.
Material prepared by the editorial team of fresh-market.info, editor Artur Spiker · Illustrative image generated by AI