The sharp decline of tomato prices on the European market in May has slowed down in June. Compared to the five-year average, however, prices continued to fall. Across the board, June deviates significantly, although the price remains above average, according to a new update of the tomato dashboard of the European Commission. The volumes are also currently high.
Belgium is not included in the dashboard. The average prices in this country has also decreased since mid June. Until last week. A little while before that the average price had fallen below the five-year average, but last week there was a recovery and the average price touched the five-year average again. However, the price is still below the 'winter prices' recorded last summer as a result of lower volumes following viral problems in the crop.
A glance at the volume figures of the VBT shows that the volumes of both loose and vine tomatoes were higher last week than last year. Compared to 2020, however, the volumes are still seriously lagging behind.
VBT figures, via the page with agricultural figures of the Flemish Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
A drop in price in summer is not unusual, certainly not in the Netherlands where production is high at this time, while competition from local crops is also high everywhere in Europe. It is striking that Spain, itself a major producer, is currently importing mainly Dutch product. A Belgian trader also recently pointed this out with regard to Belgian tomatoes.
The market is also not surprised by lower prices in the summer. Nevertheless, it is striking that in June prices fell by 14% in comparison with May, whereas the average fall in recent years was only 3%.
Italy is also used to a price decrease from May to June. Here the average price drop is 9%, but this year the drop was 11%.
In France and Spain the prices normally rise in May towards June. This was the case in Spain with 7% (versus average 36%), but not in France. Rather than a 9% increase there was a 6% decrease.
