Spain expects to produce 1.27 million tons of tomatoes in 14,175 hectares this winter season, which started in October. This is practically the same volume and surface area as in 2023, according to the meeting of the tomato subgroup of the Expert Group of the European Commission's Fruit and Vegetable Market Observatory.
According to representatives from COAG, Coexphal, and Fepex, which represent Spain in the tomato subgroup, fresh production will go from 1.3 million tons in last year's winter season to 1.27 million tons in this one. The area will also remain at very similar levels to the previous year, going from 14,320 hectares in 2023 to 14,175 hectares this year.
This year's summer campaign has already concluded. It stood at 358,513 tons, i.e. 21% less volume than in the previous year, following the downward trend of previous campaigns. The 2024 summer production was 30% lower than the last five years' average. The surface area also decreased and stood at 5,316 hectares.
In contrast to the downward trend in consumption in previous years, in 2024, household demand improved in Spain. From January to June 2024, Spanish households consumed 265 million kilos of tomatoes, i.e. 9.5% more than the 242 million consumed in the first half of 2023.
The tomato subgroup is made up of sectoral representatives, experts from the different Member States, and officials from the European Commission. It is one of the four subgroups created within the Expert Group of the European Commission's Fruit and Vegetable Market Observatory. The EU Fruit and Vegetable Market Observatory aims to "provide the EU fruit and vegetable sector with greater transparency through the timely dissemination of market data and short-term analysis."
For more information: www.fepex.es