Tomato market in Southern Europe

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2023, the market volume for fresh or chilled tomatoes in Southern Europe experienced fluctuations, peaking in 2021 at 14 339 thousand tons. Initial growth through 2019 was supported by increasing consumer interest in healthy eating, and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 boosted demand for fresh vegetables, leading to stabilization around 13 000 thousand tons. The market then expanded by 10% in 2021, driven by heightened demand for organic tomatoes in Spain and shifts in trade flows, including increased imports from neighboring countries. However, volume contracted by 13.5% in 2022 due to intensified competitive pressure and production challenges, followed by a moderate recovery of 3.3% in 2023 fueled by innovations in cherry tomatoes and value-added products.

In value terms, the market showed more consistent growth, rising from 18 488 million USD in 2018 to 27 388 million USD in 2023. A sharp 35% increase in value in 2021 reflected a shift toward more expensive organic tomatoes and value-added items like dried snacks and functional juices. This premiumization trend continued in 2023, with value growing 20% despite modest volume gains, indicating consumer preference for high-quality and convenient formats, including attractively packaged cherry tomatoes.

Throughout the period, the introduction of new virus-resistant tomato varieties and intensive hygiene protocols on farms improved product quality and safety, albeit affecting costs. Additionally, evolving regulatory frameworks for tomato processing in Europe and growing export concentration from regions like Murcia in Spain supported market competitiveness. Consumer preferences shifted toward environmentally friendly and healthy options, stimulating growth in the organic segment.

Production tomato in Southern Europe

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of tomato, 2017-2020

World map of production of tomato, 2017-2020

In Southern Europe, tomato production reached 13 546 thousand metric tons in 2020, marking a slight year-over-year decrease of 1.6%. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production declined by 6.2%, with a compound annual growth rate of -2.1%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2018 at 13 406 thousand metric tons, which also saw the largest decline of 7.2%. In contrast, 2019 experienced the largest increase of 2.7%.

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

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

The value of tomato output in Southern Europe was 20 010 million US dollars in 2020, showing no significant change from 2019. From 2017 to 2020, production value decreased by 6.7%, translating to an annualized rate of -2.3%. The minimum value occurred in 2018 at 19 455 million US dollars, which had the largest decline of 9.3%. The largest increase was in 2019, with a 3.1% rise.

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

Exports tomato from Southern Europe

Exports in kind, K t

Southern Europe exported 919.3 thousand metric tons of tomatoes in 2020, a 2.0% increase compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports decreased by 5.3%, with a compound annual growth rate of -1.8%. The lowest export volume was in 2019 at 901.6 thousand metric tons, which also saw the largest decline of 7.6%. The peak was in 2018 at 975.3 thousand metric tons.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the export partner portfolio for tomatoes from Southern Europe was quite diverse. Germany accounted for 19.7% of exports in kind, France for 11.5%, and the United Kingdom for 10.5%, but together these three countries represented only 41.7% of total flows, indicating a broad distribution among many other partners.

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

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

Exports in value, M $ US

Tomato exports from Southern Europe increased in 2020 after a two-year decline, reaching 1 358 million US dollars, which is 3.4% higher than the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports decreased by 5.8%, equating to an annualized rate of -2.0%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 1 314 million US dollars, which also had the largest decline of 7.2%.

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

During 2017-2020, Germany was the largest buyer of tomatoes from Southern Europe in value terms, accounting for 25.3% of exports, followed by the United Kingdom at 11.2% and France at 11.1%. However, their combined share reached only 47.6% of total exports in value, with the remaining 52.4% spread across numerous other partners.

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

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

Imports tomato to Southern Europe

Imports in kind, K t

Tomato imports into Southern Europe declined in 2020 after a two-year rise, totaling 391.3 thousand metric tons, which is 3.1% lower than a year earlier. From 2017 to 2020, imports increased by 8.9%, with an annualized rate of 2.9%. The highest import volume was in 2019 at 403.7 thousand metric tons, while the largest increase occurred in 2018 at 8.3%.

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

In the 2017-2020 period, tomatoes were imported into Southern Europe from a wide range of markets. The Netherlands supplied 20.6% of imports in kind, Morocco 14.0%, and France 5.5%, but together these three accounted for only 40.1% of total imports in kind, with the remaining 59.9% coming from many smaller destinations.

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

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

Imports in value, M $ US

Tomato imports into Southern Europe fell in 2020 after a two-year gain, with imports valued at 465 million US dollars, reflecting a controlled decrease of 5.0% compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports increased by 11.5%, equating to an annualized rate of 3.7%. The peak value was in 2019 at 489 million US dollars, which also saw the largest increase of 9.2%.

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

Over 2017-2020, the Netherlands was the largest supplier of tomatoes to Southern Europe in value terms, representing 21.0% of imports, followed by Morocco at 16.3% and Germany at 5.9%. Together, these three accounted for 43.2% of total imports in value, but they were not dominant, as many smaller partners made up the rest.

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

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