Tomato market in Belarus

Earlier Report Observations

The market volume for fresh tomatoes in Belarus, measured in physical terms, declined from 309 thousand tons in 2018 to 283 thousand tons in 2019, but then entered a steady growth phase, reaching 318 thousand tons by 2023. This recovery began in 2020 when the government implemented a Plan of measures to ensure the supply of fresh produce, focusing on boosting sales of domestic tomatoes at reasonable prices. The establishment of a working group on food security further supported market stabilization.

Domestic production expanded from 285 thousand tons in 2018 to 337 thousand tons in 2023. The growth accelerated after 2021, sustained by continued state support for vegetable growing under import substitution policies. In 2022, the development of commercial greenhouse vegetable farming in the region and increased supplies from peasant (farm) households in Belarus provided additional impetus to output.

Concurrently, tomato imports plummeted from 87 thousand tons in 2018 to 12 thousand tons in 2023. This drop was partly due to changes in the Eurasian Economic Commission's customs regulations, which limited duty-free import volumes. Price regulation introduced in Belarus in October 2022, setting maximum markups on consumer goods including tomatoes, also shaped market conditions by controlling retail margins.

Production tomato in Belarus

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of tomato, 2017-2020

World map of production of tomato, 2017-2020

Tomato production in Belarus increased for two years before declining. In 2019, production reached its peak at 299.0 thousand tons, marking a 5.0% increase from the previous year. However, in 2020, production fell to 289.8 thousand tons, a moderate year-over-year drop of 3.1%. Overall, from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 3.7%, which translates to an average annual growth rate of 1.2%.

Annual dynamics of production in Belarus in kind, 2017-2020, K t

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

The value of tomato production in Belarus rose for two consecutive years before experiencing a decline. In 2019, it peaked at 309.2 million US dollars, with a significant 27.6% increase from the prior year. By 2020, the value had decreased to 247.9 million US dollars, a sharp year-over-year drop of 19.8%. Over the 2017-2020 period, production value increased by 4.3%, corresponding to a compound annual growth rate of 1.4%.

Annual dynamics of production in Belarus in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Exports tomato from Belarus

Exports in kind, K t

Tomato export volumes from Belarus have been declining for three consecutive years. In 2020, exports amounted to 46.9 thousand tons, representing a strong 19.7% decrease compared to the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, exports fell by 44.9%, which equates to an average annual decline of 18.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Belarus in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Between 2017 and 2020, Russia was the primary and nearly exclusive market for Belarusian tomato exports in volume terms, accounting for 99.0% of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Belarus in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

In 2020, the value of tomato exports from Belarus was 40.1 million US dollars, reflecting a steep 33.6% year-over-year decline. From 2017 to 2020, export value decreased by 44.6%, with an average annual drop of 17.9%. The largest increase occurred in 2019, at 12.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Belarus in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Throughout 2017-2020, Russia remained the almost exclusive buyer of Belarusian tomatoes in value terms, holding a 99.2% share of total exports.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Belarus in value, 2017-2020

Imports tomato to Belarus

Imports in kind, K t

After two years of decline, tomato imports into Belarus increased. In 2019, imports hit their lowest point at 42.5 thousand tons, with a sharp 51.3% decrease from the previous year. By 2020, imports rose to 45.0 thousand tons, a 5.9% increase year-over-year. Overall, from 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 73.2%, averaging an annual decline of 35.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Belarus in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, the main sources for tomato imports into Belarus by volume were Turkey (48.3%), Poland (13.3%), and Ukraine (9.1%), together accounting for 70.7% of total imports.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Belarus in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, M $ US

Belarus's tomato imports have declined for three consecutive years. In 2020, imports totaled 55.9 million US dollars, showing a slight reduction of 2.5% compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, import value fell by 74.3%, with an average annual decrease of 36.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Belarus in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Over the 2017-2020 period, the key suppliers of tomatoes to Belarus in value terms were Turkey (52.5%), Poland (11.8%), and Morocco (7.2%), collectively comprising 71.5% of total imports.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Belarus in value, 2017-2020