Tomato market in Northern Europe

Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2020, the fresh tomato market in Northern Europe showed relative stability, supported by advancements in local production. The adoption of energy-smart greenhouses using renewable energy and industrial waste heat helped increase tomato cultivation in Sweden. A concurrent shift in consumer preferences toward more sustainable and locally grown produce strengthened demand. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 disrupted import supply chains, further boosting interest in domestic tomatoes and keeping the market volume steady at around 790 thousand tons.

From 2021 onward, rising production costs, particularly for electricity, led to a reduction in greenhouse cultivation area and a decline in domestic output, pulling the total market volume down to 757 thousand tons in 2021. In 2022, extreme weather and climate impacts in Southern Europe and North Africa curtailed imports, creating shortages and raising prices. Increased consumer demand for Swedish tomatoes as a more environmentally friendly alternative helped the market recover to 806 thousand tons. However, in 2023, a historic drought in Europe continued to limit imports, while high energy and production costs further constrained supply, causing the market to contract to 744 thousand tons.

Production tomato in Northern Europe

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of tomato, 2017-2020

World map of production of tomato, 2017-2020

Following a two-year decline, tomato production in Northern Europe increased in 2020. The region produced 173.0 K t of tomatoes that year, representing a moderate 5.1% rise from 2019. Looking at the broader period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 7.7%, which translates to an average annual decrease of 2.6%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2019 at 164.6 K t, while the steepest decline occurred in 2018 with an 8.3% drop.

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

Exports tomato from Northern Europe

Exports in kind, K t

After two years of decreases, Northern Europe's tomato exports grew in 2020. The region exported 30.6 K t of tomatoes that year, showing a modest 9.4% increase compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports declined by 40.3%, averaging an annual reduction of 15.8%. The lowest export volume was in 2019 at 27.9 K t, and the largest decline happened in 2018 with a 33.5% fall.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the main destinations for Northern Europe's tomato exports in volume terms were Belarus, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates. Belarus accounted for 46.3% of exports, Russia for 3.8%, and the UAE for 3.7%. Together, these three countries represented 53.8% of total export flows.

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

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

Exports in value, M $ US

Northern Europe's tomato export value increased for the second year in a row in 2020. Exports reached 41 M $ US that year, marking a moderate 3.8% rise from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, export value decreased by 8.1%, equivalent to an average annual decline of 2.8%. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 38 M $ US, which also saw the largest drop of 13.5%.

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

The distribution of tomato export value from Northern Europe was quite dispersed from 2017 to 2020. Belarus accounted for 21.4% of exports in value terms, the United Arab Emirates for 6.4%, and Russia for 4.2%. Combined, these three countries made up just 32.0% of total flows, with the remaining 68.0% spread across numerous other destinations.

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

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

Imports tomato to Northern Europe

Imports in kind, K t

Northern Europe's tomato import volume declined for the second consecutive year in 2020. Imports totaled 647.1 K t that year, down 1.3% from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 4.6%, averaging an annual reduction of 1.5%. The highest import volume was in 2018 at 689.8 K t, while the largest decline occurred in 2019 with a 5.0% drop. The biggest increase was recorded in 2018 with a 1.7% rise.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the Netherlands, Spain, and Morocco were the primary suppliers of tomatoes to Northern Europe in volume terms. The Netherlands accounted for 45.3% of imports, Spain for 27.3%, and Morocco for 10.2%. Together, these three countries supplied 82.9% of total tomato imports.

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

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

Imports in value, M $ US

In 2020, Northern Europe's tomato import value totaled 1 164 M $ US, up 1.2% from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, import value decreased by 2.5%, with an average annual decline of 0.9%. The lowest value was in 2019 at 1 151 M $ US, while the highest was in 2018 at 1 221 M $ US. The largest decline occurred in 2019 with a 5.8% drop, and the biggest increase was in 2018 with a 2.3% rise.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, the Netherlands, Spain, and Morocco were the main sources of tomato imports to Northern Europe in value terms. The Netherlands accounted for 45.0% of import value, Spain for 27.4%, and Morocco for 8.5%. Collectively, these three countries represented 80.8% of total import value.

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

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