In the last decade, the EU tomato market has undergone significant changes, according to a report by Hortoinfo based on data from Euroestacom (ICEX-Eurostat). Between January and October 2024, EU member states imported a total of 2,381.33 million kilos of tomatoes, i.e. 2.52% more than in the same period in 2015. This increase translates into a market value of 4,030.92 million euros, with an average price of 1.69 euros per kilo.
In this context, sales from the Netherlands and Spain, traditionally the EU's two largest tomato suppliers, have decreased. Dutch tomato exports to the EU fell by 14.76%, as the Netherlands sold 638.49 million kilos to the EU between January and October 2024, i.e. 26.81% of all tomatoes sold in the EU. Meanwhile, Spain, the EU's second biggest tomato supplier, experienced a 12.87% reduction in its sales, with 460.38 million kilos sold, equivalent to 19.33% of the total.
Meanwhile, Morocco has become an increasingly important tomato supplier for the EU, with a 72.71% increase in sales in the last decade. Between January and October 2024, Morocco sold 419.87 million kilos of tomatoes to the EU, accounting for 17.63% of total sales. This growth positions Morocco ever closer to Spain's tomato sales volume in the EU.
By value, tomato sales to the EU between January and October 2024 were led by the Netherlands with 1,110.71 million euros and an average price of 1.74 euros per kilo. It was followed by Spain with sales worth 792.39 million euros and an average price of 1.72 euros per kilo. Morocco ranked third with a total of 764.76 million euros and an average price of 1.82 euros per kilo (the highest average price among the top three suppliers).
This analysis reflects the dynamic changes in the EU tomato market, highlighting the variations in the sales of the main suppliers and Morocco's significant growth as an emerging competitor.
Source: hortoinfo.es