[CLSTR]
< Back to situations

Monitor this situation.

[SITUATION] · [ACTIVE] · [BUSINESS]

6 clusters · 12 sources · 45 days · First seen · Last updated

Global tomato supply and production cost pressures

Overview

Tomato supply and pricing face ongoing pressures from environmental conditions and rising operational costs. In North America, prices remained high through October due to limited supply from shifting crop cycles and weather in Mexico, alongside a 60 percent increase in diesel fuel prices.

In the United Kingdom, the challenge centers on energy-intensive greenhouse management. The National Farmers’ Union has warned that rising electricity grid fees could increase annual costs for large operators by more than £1 million, complicating efforts to maintain low consumer prices despite a 4 percent increase in UK production in 2025.

European markets continue to experience high volatility. By August 2026, average prices reached 1.55 euro per kilogram, exceeding five-year averages in several countries. In the Netherlands, greenhouse vine tomato prices reached 1.17 euro per kg. Regional trends vary: Poland saw domestic prices reach historical peaks before a slight decline in September, while Italy reported cherry and specialty varieties 6% below the five-year average. In Spain, vine tomatoes saw a 23% decrease compared to August 2025. During an October 2026 meeting, the Spanish delegation noted that the 2025/2026 campaign production might decrease by 2% due to weather and phytosanitary issues. FEPEX director Ignacio Antequera noted that rising energy, transport, and packaging costs are hindering profitability.

In Egypt, the head of the Farmers' Syndicate, Hussein Abu Saddam, warned of a significant price surge, with crate prices projected to rise from 350 EGP to 500 EGP. This is attributed to reduced cultivated land following previous financial losses and falling temperatures slowing the ripening process.

Entities

European Commission · Fepex · Spain · Ignacio Antequera · National Farmers’ Union

Timeline

  1. [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    Egypt farmers warn of rising tomato prices

    Egyptian farmers warn that tomato prices could surge, with crate prices expected to reach 500 EGP due to shrinking cultivation areas and slower crop ripening caused by falling temperatures.

  2. [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    European tomato producers face declining profitability despite price increases

    European tomato producers face declining profitability due to rising energy and fertilizer costs, despite higher prices. Spanish production is projected to drop by nearly 2% for the 2025/2026 campaign.

  3. [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    Spanish tomato sector warns of competition and rising costs

    Spanish tomato producers face declining production and rising costs for energy and packaging, while warning of intense competition from Moroccan cherry tomatoes.

  4. [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    European tomato prices show high volatility across markets

    European tomato prices have fluctuated significantly, with some regions seeing highs above five-year averages while others, like Spain and Italy, report prices below historical norms.

  5. [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    Tomato supply faces pressure from rising production costs

    Rising energy costs and seasonal weather patterns are threatening the stable supply and affordability of tomatoes, particularly in the UK greenhouse sector.

  6. [BUSINESS] 3 sources
    North American tomato prices expected to remain high through October

    Tomato prices in North America are expected to remain strong through October due to scattered supply, weather impacts in Mexico, and rising diesel fuel costs.

Sources

agroclm.com · benno-koch.de · diariodealmeria.es · elbalad.news · empresaexterior.com · finanznachrichten.de · freshplaza.com · freshplaza.es · hortidaily.com · revistamercados.com · stiripesurse.ro · vetogate.com

This summary has been updated 4 times: see revision history