According to the short term outlook for the EU agricultural markets report, corresponding to the summer of 2021, that was recently published by the European Commission, the Community will import 664,000 tons of fresh tomato in 2021, i.e. 7% more than last year, and export 350,000 tons, that is, 21% less tomato than in the previous year.
EU fresh tomato imports will not only be 7% higher than in 2020 but 18% higher than the average of the last five years, according to the Report. Morocco continues to be the largest source of imports (70% in 2020). Imports from Turkey (17%) between January and April 2021 increased by 36% when compared to the same period of 2020.
EU fresh tomato exports, in decline since 2013, are also expected to hit a record decrease in 2021. This sharp drop is due to the decline in shipments to the United Kingdom, which, according to the Commission’s Report, decreased by 37% in the period from January to April 2021 over the same period in 2020. The United Kingdom is the main market for EU tomato exporters, with 52% of the total.
The EC also stated that the production of fresh tomatoes would decrease by 2% in 2021, which represents a 5% drop in relation to the last five years, due to the decreases in Spain (-10%), the main producer in the EU, and France (-2%).
According to Fepex, the European Commission’s outlook reports, which are periodically published, are a good way to get informed about the situation of the different agricultural sectors in the EU. However, they added, the EU must take measures to tackle the problems detected, such as the critical situation of the tomato, which goes beyond specific campaign issues. The sector requires a plan of measures to regain competitiveness, which begins by recovering the Community preference and avoiding imports from third countries that can cause distortions of the Community market.
Source: fepex.es