Tomato market in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

Earlier Report Observations

The market for fresh tomatoes in Eastern Europe experienced considerable volatility between 2018 and 2023. Market volume peaked at 8 366 thousand tonnes in 2021, then contracted sharply to 6 439 thousand tonnes in 2022 amid geopolitical sanctions and supply chain disruptions, before recovering partially to 7 121 thousand tonnes in 2023. In value terms, the market expanded from 10 452 million US dollars in 2018 to 13 340 million US dollars in 2021, reflecting both volume changes and likely price effects.

State support for greenhouse vegetable growing was a primary driver of production growth, particularly in 2021 when market volume increased. However, a pause in investment support and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic led to a decline in gross harvest in 2020. The escalation of sanctions and geopolitical instability in 2022 caused a severe market contraction, despite the ongoing import substitution trend. The recovery in 2023 was fueled by record greenhouse yields and continued state measures.

Throughout the period, structural shifts included a rising share of domestic production, the development of new greenhouse complexes, and the introduction of new tomato varieties such as cherry and plum tomatoes. By 2024, the spread of the ToBRF virus in greenhouses necessitated new sanitary protocols, while imports remained significant but with a declining trend.

Production tomato in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of tomato, 2017-2020

World map of production of tomato, 2017-2020

Tomato production in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 7,092 thousand tonnes of tomatoes, which represents a 2.8% decrease compared to the previous year. The highest production volume was recorded in 2018 at 7,346 thousand tonnes, with the largest annual increase of 1.7% also occurring that year.

Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020, K t

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

In 2020, the value of tomato production in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) reached 9,178 million US dollars, marking a 1.2% increase from the prior year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production value grew by 4.5%, with a compound annual growth rate of 1.5%. The peak value was recorded in 2018 at 9,254 million US dollars, which saw the largest annual increase of 5.3%. The most significant decline occurred in 2019, with a 2.0% drop.

Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Exports tomato from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

Exports in kind, K t

In 2020, tomato exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) totaled 131 thousand tonnes, reflecting a 14.8% decrease from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports fell by 17.6%, which translates to an annualized decline of 6.2%. The largest increase in exports was recorded in 2019, with a 4.1% rise.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, the country structure of tomato exports in volume terms was highly diversified. Germany accounted for 6.4% of exports, the United Kingdom for 4.9%, and France for 2.4%, with these three countries together representing only 13.6% of total export flows. The remaining 86.4% was distributed among a wide range of smaller markets.

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

World map of product's exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

In 2020, the value of tomato exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) amounted to 170 million US dollars, down by 11.2% compared to the prior year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, export value decreased by 12.3%, equating to an annualized decline of 4.3%. The largest increase occurred in 2019, with a 2.6% rise.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Between 2017 and 2020, the buyer portfolio for tomato exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) was broad. Germany contributed 7.0% of export value, the United Kingdom 6.8%, and France 2.4%, with these three countries together accounting for only 16.1% of total export value. Many other countries held smaller but notable shares, making up the remainder.

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

World map of product's exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020

Imports tomato to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

Imports in kind, K t

Tomato imports into Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, the region imported approximately 1,028 thousand tonnes of tomatoes, which is 5.1% lower than in 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 2.9%, with an annualized decline of 1.0%. The highest import volume was recorded in 2018 at 1,120 thousand tonnes, which also saw the largest annual increase of 5.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020, K t

The structure of tomato imports in volume terms from 2017 to 2020 indicates a diversified set of trading partners. Turkey accounted for 21.8% of imports, Azerbaijan for 14.9%, and Morocco for 9.5%, with these three countries together representing 46.2% of total import flows. The remaining 53.8% was spread across numerous smaller markets.

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

World map of product's imports to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, M $ US

The value of tomato imports into Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) fell for the second year in a row. In 2020, imports were valued at 1,304 million US dollars, down by 3.6% year-on-year. Between 2017 and 2020, import value decreased by 2.4%, with an annualized decline of 0.8%. The peak value was recorded in 2018 at 1,384 million US dollars, which also experienced the largest annual increase of 3.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

During the period from 2017 to 2020, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Spain were key suppliers of tomatoes to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia), accounting for 19.8%, 13.5%, and 11.6% of import value, respectively. However, their combined share reached only 44.9% of total imports in value terms, with the remaining 55.1% distributed among many other partners.

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

World map of product's imports to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020