Tomato market in Uruguay

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2023, Uruguay's fresh tomato production remained stable at around 36 000 t per year. This consistency was underpinned by the widespread use of protected cultivation, which accounted for about 88% of the national supply, ensuring controlled quality and year-round availability. Furthermore, the state-led Tomato Plan implemented by the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries promoted better agricultural practices and technology adoption among hundreds of southern producers, helping to maintain production volumes.

Regulatory updates introduced during the period shaped market conditions without drastically altering the overall size. In 2022, new front-of-package labeling rules for food products came into force, changing packaging requirements for fresh and processed tomatoes. The same year, fresh tomato export regulations were tightened, making registration in the National Registry of Fresh Tomato Exporters and adherence to contamination risk reduction programs mandatory. These measures primarily affected trade procedures and quality standards rather than total market volume.

A shift in consumer preferences towards healthier and fresher foods supported steady demand for fresh tomatoes throughout the period. This trend, combined with ongoing quality regulations aligned with MERCOSUR standards and national bromatological rules, contributed to the market's resilience. The result was a stable domestic market volume hovering near 36 500 t annually, with only minor fluctuations.

Production tomato in Uruguay

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of tomato, 2017-2020

World map of production of tomato, 2017-2020

In 2020, Uruguay produced 36 164 tons of tomatoes, with production remaining stable compared to the previous year. The largest decline occurred in 2019, when production fell by 0.3%.

Annual dynamics of production in Uruguay in kind, 2017-2020, t

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Uruguay's tomato production value declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, tomato output was valued at 89.3 million US dollars, representing a significant drop of 15.3% from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, production value increased by 2.6%, which translates to an annualized growth rate of 0.9%. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 109.3 million US dollars, marking the largest increase of 25.5% that year.

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

Exports tomato from Uruguay

Exports in kind, t

Market performance showed noticeable fluctuations during this period. Exports varied significantly, with a 3.1-fold difference between the high in 2017 and the low in 2019. In 2020, Uruguay exported 4.7 tons of tomatoes, representing a substantial increase of 207.7% compared to the previous year. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2019 at 1.5 tons, while the largest decline occurred in 2018 with a 46.9% decrease.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the United Kingdom was the dominant buyer of Uruguayan tomatoes, accounting for 100.0% of total exports in volume terms.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

The market exhibited an unstable trend throughout this timeframe. Exports reached their peak in 2020 and hit their lowest point in 2019, with a 2.6-fold gap between these years. In 2020, Uruguay's tomato export value stood at 11.6 thousand US dollars, showing a rise of 159.6% compared to 2019. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 4.4 thousand US dollars, which also saw the largest decline of 41.0%.

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

Throughout 2017–2020, the United Kingdom almost entirely determined the geographical structure of Uruguay's tomato exports in value terms, holding a 100.0% share of total flows.

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

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

Imports tomato to Uruguay

Imports in kind, t

Volatility characterized market behavior during these years. Imports peaked in 2018 and bottomed out in 2020, with a 56-fold difference between these periods. In 2020, foreign tomato supplies to Uruguay totaled 6.3 tons, reflecting a dramatic decrease of 95.5% year-over-year. The maximum import volume was recorded in 2018 at 351.9 tons, which also saw the largest increase of 1 366.1%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Brazil and Argentina captured most of Uruguay's tomato imports in volume terms, jointly accounting for 100.0% of total flows.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

The market showed signs of volatility over the observed period. Imports reached their peak in 2018 and their trough in 2020, changing by a factor of 77. In 2020, Uruguay's tomato import value stood at 3.6 thousand US dollars, marking a sharp drop of 98.0% year-over-year. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 274.0 thousand US dollars, which also experienced the largest increase of 969.1%.

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

In 2017–2020, Brazil and Argentina formed a highly concentrated pair of markets for Uruguay's tomato imports in value terms, together taking 100.0% of total flows.

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

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