European Commission predicts 20% drop in Spanish tomato production

A report predicts that in the next 10 years, tomato production will decrease by 4% in the whole of the European Union and will decrease by 20% in Spain.

 

 

On December 16, the European Commission published its report on Agricultural Outlook 2020-2030 which predicts that by 2030, EU tomato production will drop to 6.2 million tonnes, 4% less than 2019. For Spain this decrease will reach 20%. Decline due to competition from tomatoes from third countries, to the reduction in areas devoted to other more profitable crops and to water scarcity.

 

 

The report also forecasts a stabilization of production in other EU countries and a continued increase in imports. The other producing countries will maintain the levels reached between 2015 and 2019.

 

 

Regarding Community exports, they are expected to remain stable due to increased self-sufficiency in Russia and the fact that alternative markets are limited. EU imports are expected to continue growing at 2% per year, with growth expected to come from Morocco where an increase in production is expected and which already accounted for 80% of total EU imports last year.

 

 

 

From FEPEX's point of view, it is positive that the European Commission highlights the problems of the tomato sector in Spain. The organization hopes that the Commission will propose a plan of measures to restore the competitiveness of a strategic vegetable for the Spanish agricultural economy.

photo: 65ymas