In Europe, December brought above-average tomato prices. Hardly surprising after last summer's price extremes, which continued into the fall.
The European Commission's tomato dashboard is sprinkled with plusses. A few of the tomato report's figures: Dutch cherry tomato prices rose by 49% and TOVs by 59%. In Belgium loose, round tomatoes sold for 75% more.
As a whole, the European Union's situation is less extreme. The five-year maximum was not exceeded in December. That had been the case from June to as late as October. November's 14% price hike kept pace with that of recent years.
The dashboard shows that Italy and the Netherlands were outliers. In Italy, the five-year high was narrowly surpassed with a €2.30/kg average. That happened earlier in 2021 too, but only in July.
TOV prices rise most
The price hike was even more extreme in the Netherlands. In December, the dashboard's graph peaked well above all previous averages. Cherry and vine tomato prices rose from November, as already mentioned. That contributed to this.
No other EU country's price increases come close. For cherry tomatoes, Spain comes in second, with a 17% increase. For TOVs, only Belgium (+69%) has higher prices than in November. In Spain, that was +25%.
Dutch loose, round tomatoes' end year prices fell by eight percent from November. But, these too, brought good prices in Belgium, rising by 75%.
Throughout the European Union, the extreme market situation was particularly noticeable in vine tomatoes. Prices rose in just about all countries for which the European Commission has figures. Germany and Greece are the exceptions. Across the board, there was a 27% increase compared to November. For cherry, as well as loose, round tomatoes, that was four percent.
Spring outlook
Spain's tomato prices continue to lag. Their year ended with average prices in December. Those were just below the five-year average. Their average tomato prices had been fairly similar to the average since September. And December did not change that. That was despite the energy crisis in Northwest Europe - a seemingly favorable market development for the Spanish.
This market situation, with high energy prices, does not appear to be over yet either. Whether the recent price increases outweigh these high costs varies from grower to grower. What is certain is that even as 2002 begins, unusual price developments remain possible. Growers and traders are already bracing for what spring may hold. Many producers could enter the market simultaneously. Then, what will the prices do?
