The European Commission (EC) projects total tomato production in the European Union to decrease by 2.6% year-on-year in 2025, reaching 16.4 million metric tonnes (mt). This represents a 2.4% decline compared with the five-year average.
The EC attributes the reduction mainly to a decline in processing tomato output, which accounts for around 66% of total production. Forecasts indicate processing volumes will reach 10.8 million mt, down 3.7% compared with last year. Production is particularly lower in Spain and Portugal, where growers face high costs and weaker returns from processors.
For fresh tomatoes, the EC expects a slight decline in production across most EU countries during the summer months, but it does not anticipate major price effects. Forecasts place 2025 fresh tomato production at 5.6 million mt, which would be in line with last year’s figures but 12.8% below the five-year average.
The commission notes that producers continue to face challenges such as rising costs, climate change, water availability, and competition from lower-cost imports. Imports from Morocco remain central to this debate. Morocco supplies 70% of the EU’s imported tomatoes, according to EC data. Protests in Spain and France have highlighted concerns about competitive pressure, with producers claiming unfair trade conditions.
Industry analysis shows that Moroccan production techniques are advancing, and with infrastructure set to expand, cultivation area and production capacity could increase further.
Source: Mintec/Expana
Frontpage photo: © Gaurav Masand | Dreamstime
Publication date:
Mon 18 Aug 2025
