The tomato market is quite quiet. "There is sufficient supply and production is going well. Only the market is a lot less," according to a Belgian trader. "Luckily production is not too high, because otherwise it would really be dramatic." According to him the quiet market situation is mostly the result of the fact that there is hardly any or no demand at all from third countries, such as Greece, Russia and Italy.
"Therefore everything has to be sold in Western Europe and the weather is not helping. Consequently the consumption is also not good." According to him the holiday period in the tomato trade started earlier than in other years. "Normally Russia order till the end of June, but this season that is not the case. Most probably their own production is sufficient or they obtain their tomatoes from other countries," he states as reasons.
"Because the demand is less, prices are also at a low level. Forty cents per bunch is being paid and for loose tomatoes about 45 cents. Not much change is expected by the trader for the coming weeks. "The holidays are here and that is always a quiet period. If there are no peaks and dips in the weather or with the demand not much will change in the situation."