Spain is grappling with a near 2 per cent production decline, a surge in energy and transport costs, and growing competition from Morocco
The European Commission’s Tomato Expert Group met in Brussels this week, to analyse market trends within the EU and identify the challenges facing European production.
The Group is part of the Commission’s Fruit and Vegetables Market Observatory and is composed of EC officials and industry representatives from member states.
Challenges discussed included sharp cost increases, competition from third countries, climate change, plant diseases, and labour shortages.
Fepex reported that, during the discussion on Spain, the national delegation – including Fepex director Ignacio Antequera – presented an overview of the 2025/26 season.
The period is characterised by relatively stable acreage but a production decline of nearly 2 per cent, it noted.
Contributing factors include the use of virus-resistant (yet less productive) crop varieties, phytosanitary issues, and adverse weather conditions.
Despite this, the Spanish sector’s strong capacity to adapt to these difficult circumstances was highlighted.
“The sector has successfully met its commercial commitments, thereby strengthening the confidence of its customers,” Fepex said.
Spain’s delegation also highlighted the intense pressure from production costs, noting a recent resurgence in expenses related to energy, fertilisers, and petroleum-based products.
Specifically, it pointed to a 16 per cent increase in energy and transport costs – relative to what are considered normal levels – and an 18 per cent rise in the cost of plastics and packaging materials.
As a result, and despite favourable price trends throughout the season, it was noted that producers’ profitability has not seen a corresponding improvement.
Competition and climate
The Spanish delegation also expressed particular concern regarding cherry tomatoes, noting a reduction in cultivation area – especially for loose cherry tomatoes – which it attributed to competition from Morocco, as well as disparities in labour costs and regulatory conditions.
It was further noted that the low prices of Moroccan produce have exerted downward pressure on the prices of Spanish cherry tomatoes.
Competition from third countries was a concern shared by representatives from various Member States, Fepex said.
Data presented on foreign trade indicated that EU imports of fresh tomatoes from third countries totalled 773,000 tonnes for 2025/26, with 527,000 tonnes originating from Morocco.
Meanwhile, EU exports to third countries reached 383,000 tonnes, the vast majority of which – 279,000 tonnes – went to the UK.
The situation described by representatives from other Member States during the meeting revealed that many of these challenges are common across the entire European production sector.
Belgium, the Netherlands and Poland highlighted difficulties stemming from recent heatwaves, heavy rainfall, the tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV), and high energy costs, a critical production factor in these regions.
Market outlook
“For Fepex, another significant aspect of the meeting was the discussion regarding the outlook for the tomato market over the next decade,” the association outlined.
”Based on current conditions, an independent study forecasts a 1.2 per cent decline in production in Spain, attributed to competition from non-EU countries, a loss of competitiveness due to high costs, and difficulties in accessing labour.”
The meeting also highlighted the growing caution among European consumers, with a loss of purchasing power and economic uncertainty altering purchasing habits.
In the case of tomatoes, it was noted that in France, an initial rise in consumption (boosted by favourable temperatures) was subsequently halted by sharp price increases, leading to a contraction in demand.
For Spain, the data presented showed a 0.5 per cent decline in vegetable consumption.
Looking ahead to the coming years, projections from Wageningen University point to a relatively stable trend in tomato consumption, with moderate growth of between 0.3 per cent and 0.6 per cent in Spain and the Netherlands.
