VBT figures week 34






The anticipated dip in tomato production following a stretch of low light and extreme summer heat is now becoming apparent in Belgium. Volumes delivered to auctions run by the Verbond van Belgische Tuinbouwcoöperaties (VBT) diverged sharply from year-earlier levels in week 34. Auctions received just over 1 million kilograms less of both loose and truss tomatoes compared with the same week last year. Prices are running higher than a year ago and well above the five-year average, with loose tomatoes fetching an average of €1.844 per kilogram and truss tomatoes €1.547 per kilogram.

Other greenhouse vegetable crops are also facing a demanding summer that is affecting output. Cucumber, however, shows little sign of this in the raw week 34 figures: both the number of units and total kilograms supplied were slightly higher than last year, with differences far smaller than those seen in tomato. Cucumber prices, too, are well above the five-year average and above last year’s level, with an average unit price of 60.5 euro cents.

“The price was sixty cents, so that was good for us here. Hopefully it can hold a bit longer,” said cucumber grower Willem Derynck, referring to the price level at the time. Willem, based in Ardooie, recently started his final growing cycle of the season.

Bell pepper volumes were also higher than last year for both red (just over 1 million kilograms) and yellow (5 metric tons) varieties. Green bell pepper supply, however, was lower than the same week the previous year, pushing prices up to €1.769 per kilogram. Yellow and red bell pepper prices moved in the opposite direction, coming in lower at 80.4 euro cents per kilogram for red and €1.103 per kilogram for yellow.

Eggplant supply also increased year-on-year, reaching 570,000 kilograms at an average price of €1.107 per kilogram. The average strawberry price fell by half to €2.707 per kilogram. Butterhead lettuce deliveries totaled just over 817,000 heads at an average unit price of 62 euro cents, continuing a trend of higher volumes and prices more than double those of a year earlier.

One point of concern remains: costs are rising as well. The impact of current price levels on overall business performance therefore varies from grower to grower, with factors such as energy management playing an important role.

All average prices for week 34 can be viewed in the VBT price overview.




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Publication date:

Wed 26 Aug 2026





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