EU tomato production continues to shrink
Fresh tomato production in the EU is projected to continue its recent decline, falling by 3% in 2022, to 6.2 million tons, which is 5% below the five-year average. The main cause of this year’s contraction is lower greenhouses production due to the spiralling energy prices, as well as a change in the varieties planted, which are being oriented towards the Cherry variety, according to the European Commission.
Annual per capita consumption of fresh tomatoes in the EU is estimated to fall by 2% compared to 2021 to 14.6 kilos.
The sector has also been hit by the lower exports to the UK since Brexit and the stiff competition from Morocco.
EU imports of fresh tomatoes are expected to be up 3% this year to 730,000 tons, 23% more than the average of the last five years. In 2021, 67% of EU fresh tomato imports came from Morocco. The next largest source was Turkey.
