Average tomato prices have increased for first time since mid-April, reaching close to 0.26 €/kg. Sales volumes are down by about 30% compared to the previous week, with the smooth, ribbed and on the vine varieties dropping the most in volume and experiencing the greater price increases.
The low prices received by growers since late April due to the market's saturation has led to an early end of the campaign for many plantations. The month of May has left a very unfavourable balance for tomato growers, with sales volumes down by 20-30% compared to the same month of the 2012/13 campaign, and the average monthly price of the product approaching 0.22 €/kg, compared to the 0.42 €/kg obtained during the month of May last season.
Moroccan quota period
During week 22, Morocco exported a total of 2,305 tonnes of tomatoes to the EU at an average price of 33,40 €/100kg. Exports fell by 32% in volume and 19% in value compared to the previous period.
31 May marked the end of Morocco's quota period for the export of tomatoes to the EU. The volume exported amounted to 95% of the available quota for the 2013/14 campaign, with a total of 66 days with a price below the minimum established in the EU-Morocco Trade Agreement.