For decades, Spain has been one of the leading suppliers of tomatoes to the European Union. However, its market position has gradually diminished over recent years, with Morocco steadily increasing its sales. The latest data indicates that Morocco has outperformed Spain for the second consecutive year, becoming the second-largest supplier of tomatoes to the EU markets, trailing only the Netherlands. These figures, which pertain to the 2025/2026 campaign, stem from a report by Hortoinfo based on data from Euroestacom (ICEX-Eurostat).
The difference in volume between the two countries is not particularly significant, yet it underscores a transformation that has been occurring over the last decade. From the 2016/2017 to the 2025/2026 campaigns, Spanish tomato sales within the EU have plummeted by 36.99%, while Morocco's exports have surged by 22.17%. The Netherlands has also seen a decrease, albeit to a lesser extent, with an 18.4% drop in sales.
During the 2025/2026 campaign, EU countries imported a total of 2.781 billion kilograms of tomatoes, amounting to a value of 5.568 billion euros. The average price for these transactions hovered around 2 euros per kilogram. The Netherlands remains at the forefront of suppliers, with its companies selling 773.45 million kilograms, which represents 27.81% of the total volume, valued at 1.648 billion euros, with an average price of 2.13 euros per kilogram.
Morocco ranks second, providing 493.33 million kilograms—17.74% of the total—valued at 1.030 billion euros, with an average price of 2.09 euros per kilogram. Spain occupies the third position, exporting 475.8 million kilograms, equivalent to 17.11% of the total marketed in community markets, with a sales value of 1.017 billion euros and an average price of 2.14 euros per kilogram. Thus, the difference between Morocco and Spain is approximately 17.5 million kilograms, favoring the North African nation.
Spain has lost nearly 37% of its sales over the past decade, and the recent trends provide a clearer picture of the shift in the European market. Between 2016/2017 and 2025/2026, Spain's tomato sales to the EU have decreased by 36.99%, while Morocco's have increased by 22.17%. Although the Netherlands continues to hold its top position, it too has experienced a decline in sales.
The downward trend for Spain is also visible in other comparative periods. FEPEX reports that Spanish tomato production aimed at the fresh market dropped from 2.32 million tons in 2014 to 1.65 million tons in 2024, marking a decline of 31%. During the same timeframe, Spanish tomato exports to the EU fell from 786,599 to 591,098 tons, a reduction of 25%, excluding the United Kingdom.
Morocco has already surpassed Spain in volume, albeit by a narrow margin. The data from the 2025/2026 campaign illustrates that the difference between both suppliers is relatively small compared to the total market volume. Morocco marketed 493.33 million kilograms compared to Spain's 475.8 million kilograms. The economic value of sales was also slightly higher for Morocco, at 1.030 billion euros versus Spain's 1.017 billion euros. However, the average price was marginally higher for Spanish tomatoes, at 2.14 euros per kilogram compared to 2.09 euros for Moroccan produce.
The shift is not confined to the community market, as Spain has also increased its imports of tomatoes from Morocco. According to FEPEX, in the first half of 2025, Spanish imports of Moroccan tomatoes surged by 56% in volume, while Spanish tomato exports decreased by 10% compared to the same period the previous year. Moreover, in 2025, Spain imported a total of 304.99 million kilograms of tomatoes, which is 69.74% more than in 2021. Portugal emerged as the primary supplier, with 165.92 million kilograms, followed by Morocco with 87.6 million kilograms.
The decline in national production elucidates part of Spain's waning influence in the community market. FEPEX places the decrease in Spanish tomato production for fresh consumption at 31% between 2014 and 2024. The organization also notes a 25% decline in Spanish exports to the European Union during this period. FEPEX attributes this trend, among other factors, to the rising competition from third countries, especially Morocco. However, this interpretation should not be viewed as a causal relationship solely supported by trade figures; other factors such as production costs, water availability, cultivated land evolution, climatic conditions, and changes in destination markets also play significant roles in the context surrounding the Spanish sector.
Despite the changes of recent years, the Netherlands continues to be the leading tomato supplier to community markets. In the 2025/2026 campaign, it sold 773.45 million kilograms, followed by Morocco with 493.33 million kilograms and Spain with 475.8 million kilograms. Other contributors include Portugal, with 175.02 million kilograms, and France, with 160.75 million kilograms.
The European tomato market is thus dominated by the Netherlands, while Morocco and Spain maintain a relatively small difference in volume, albeit with opposite trends over the past decade. The data from the 2025/2026 campaign confirms a shift in the community tomato market, with Morocco securing the second position among suppliers to the European Union for the second consecutive year, while Spain falls to third.
As reported by larazon.es.
