India’s Mahuva region, a critical hub for onion production, is currently facing severe challenges due to prolonged and excessive rainfall. This adverse weather is not only affecting fresh onion yields but also having a direct impact on the supply and pricing of dehydrated onion products.

Adverse Weather Driving Up Prices for Fresh and Dehydrated Onions

The recent heavy rains have waterlogged fields across Mahuva, making harvesting operations extremely difficult. These waterlogged conditions are leading to widespread rotting of fresh onions and a notable reduction in yield. As a result, the harvest window has become shorter and more complicated, creating added pressure on producers.

In addition to yield issues, the excess moisture has significantly deteriorated the overall quality of the onions. This has a direct knock-on effect on the dehydrated onion industry, where lower-quality fresh onions are not suitable for processing. With less usable raw material available, the production of dehydrated onion products is being compromised.

Supply Chain Delays and Price Increases

Processing facilities are also under strain. Harvesting and drying operations are being delayed due to the ongoing wet conditions, pushing out processing timelines and limiting available inventory even further.

The culmination of these factors is creating a supply squeeze in the market. Prices for both fresh and dehydrated onions are already beginning to rise, and further increases are likely if conditions persist.

Act Now to Protect Your Supply Chain

With limited supply and rising costs, early procurement is essential. At Brusco, we’re encouraging our partners to secure their onion volumes now to avoid further market volatility. By locking in supply early, you can mitigate risk and ensure consistent availability through this challenging period.

As a major importer and supplier, we ensure we have an efficient supply chain, meaning Brusco currently has stock on hand and additional shipments en route.

We highly recommend placing orders now to lock in current pricing and avoid predicted cost increases.

Meet Our Dehydrated Onion Category Manager, Neil Burton

Neil has extensive knowledge of the dehydrated onion market, across multiple origins. He is always happy to share his insight and provide updates on the latest market developments.

Get in touch with Neil on Neil.Burton@Brusco.co.uk today to confirm your required dehydrated onion volumes today.

Brusco is locking in IQF garlic puree volumes early to protect customers.

The supply of IQF garlic puree is likely to be disrupted by the US/Chinese trade tariff uncertainty.

Securing your volumes early will help ensure you have product when you need it. Delaying volume commitments may lead to shortages later on in the year.

IQF Garlic Puree Report Highlights

• As factories are producing much closer in correlation to contracted volumes, there may be much less excess product to spot buy than in recent years.
• Traditionally, producers freeze large quantities for year-round supply, but to reduce storage costs and avoid carry-overstock, this practice will be limited this year.
• Rising costs and storage risks are causing more cautious production planning.

As the uncertainty around tariffs continues, Chinese garlic purée factories are adjusting their production strategies, most notably by limiting the amount of carry-over stock they produce this season.

Traditionally, these factories manufacture most of the year’s supply during the harvest season and keep it in frozen storage for gradual sale. But this year, they’re taking a more cautious approach due to cost and risk.

With no clear path forward on trade with the U.S., producers are hesitant to create large surpluses that they may not be able to sell. Additionally, the cost of freezing and storing excess product for up to a year is significant.

Factories will still produce beyond their contracted volumes, but they’re pulling back from the aggressive overproduction of previous years.

This move isn’t universal across the industry, but it’s likely a common consideration among producers that supply to the U.S.

These suppliers are evaluating whether they can shift volumes to other markets or whether it makes more sense to scale back.

Guarding Against Allergens: Extra Steps for Peanut-Free Peace of Mind

Adding to the complexity is an emerging food safety concern around peanut contamination.

There have been increased reports about Chinese garlic powder testing positive for peanut traces, possibly due to crop rotation practices. Our supplier has made it clear that this is an issue they take seriously.

They go through extra measures within the facilities to carefully monitor for allergen cross-contamination, especially peanuts. This level of attention to detail offers peace of mind and a unique quality advantage, allowing our customers to go into production with confidence.

Our recommendations

For buyers, this all means one thing: to watch the market closely. If a U.S./China trade deal materialises late in the season, supply could be tight. If not, a more cautious global supply landscape could become the new norm.

Book your IQF garlic puree supply today so we can guarantee enough stock to last you throughout the season and keep your production on track.

Talk to our IQF expert and Category Manager Zoey, who has extensive knowledge of the IQF vegetables market across multiple origins, including Chinese IQF Garlic puree. She is always happy to share her insight and provide updates on the latest market developments.

Zoey.Baxter@brusco.co.uk | +44 (0) 1386 386 555

Secure Your Tomato Volumes with Brusco to Avoid Expected Future Supply Disruption.

Tomato Market 2025 Highlights

• Adverse weather conditions across many parts of Europe are expected to reduce crop sizes in 2025, adding further pressure to regional supply
• While California’s bumper harvest contributes to global stability, European buyers gain little benefit due to import taxes. Instead, nearby regions such as Bulgaria, Turkey, and
  Egypt remain the most cost-effective alternative sourcing options.
• Continued low raw material prices, following high levels of carry-over stock from 2024, have led to reduced planting activity.
• By reducing the planting activity of tomatoes, growers are trying to support an increase in raw material prices in 2026, allowing them to generate greater income from their crops.

Latest Update: 22/09/2025 – Click here to download full report.

The Global Tomato Production Landscape

China

Planned hectares: 43,670

Forecast: 5.1 million tonnes

Note: Transition period follows until 10–mid November before Nili crop harvest begins (mainly Sharkia, Beni Suif, Al-Fayoum, and limited quantities from Al-Minya, which peaks in the winter crop).

Italy

Forecast: 5.5 million tonnes

Heavy rains in late August in the North caused non harvesting days, and in the Centre/South, factories are at less than 50% capacity due to poor ripening.

Spain

Forecast: 2.4 million tonnes

Harvest delayed by 31st August, only 47% processed.

Portugal

Forecast: 1.4 –1.35 million tonnes

Irregular ripening 25-30% green tomatoes left behind in some fields.

Turkey

Forecast: Reduced to 2.2 million tonnes

Southern region harvest completed 5 September.

Egypt

Forecast: 780,000 tonnes (unchanged)

Transition period follows until 10–mid November before Nili crop harvest begins (mainly Sharkia, Beni Suif, Al-Fayoum, and limited quantities from Al-Minya, which peaks in the winter crop)..

Greece

Forecast: 450,000 tonnes

Harvest progressing smoothly, no issues reported.

Bulgaria

Forecast: 43,000 tonnes

About 50% harvested; factories running at full capacity.

Why Growers Are Pulling Back

Following high carry-over stock levels in 2024 and continued weak pricing, growers are now intentionally reducing planted acreage in 2025 to avoid another surplus in 2026. This strategic shift is aimed at:

• Preventing oversupply in 2026
• Supporting an increase in raw material prices
• Stabilising farmer income
• Result: Tighter availability in 2025, and potentially significant shortages in 2026.

What You Should Do Now

• If you currently source from Spain, consider alternative origins such as Bulgaria, Turkey and Egypt, who offer more reliable and cost-effective options.
• Lock in your 2025 tomato requirements with Brusco today.
• Secure best pricing while supply is still being allocated
• Guarantee volume in a year of reduced global production
• Protect your business against the pricing spikes expected in 2026

Talk to the Team

If you haven’t already shared your 2025 volumes, now is the time. Talk to our Tomatoes Expert, Sara Farrow today on sara.farrow@brusco.co.uk.

Latest Update: 22/09/2025 – Click here to download full report.

As a leading importer and distributor of alcohol in the UK, Brusco’s Alcohol Category Management team ensures you stay informed about any changes to duty rates.

Following the Autumn Budget 2024, several changes to alcohol duty rates have been introduced, which may influence pricing across various alcoholic beverages.

Understanding these changes is essential for our customers to make the best buying decisions, so we want to keep our customers up to date on any price changes.

Latest Adverse Conditions Affecting the Pepper Market

High demand vs low carryover of Black Pepper has led to a very short supply for 2025. This is likely to result in price increases from April onwards (varying depending on the origin).

Take advantage of Brusco’s data and first hand market knowledge from our growers to help your plans this year.

Vietnam Pepper Market Report

• Harvest yields have steadily declined over the past 3 – 4 years due to shrinking cultivation areas as farmers switch to more profitable crops such as durian and coffee.
• There has been around 5 – 10% decline in crop size since 2024.
• Current crop is in the maturity stage with very low fresh arrivals.
• Carry-forward stock levels are limited.
• Domestic and export demand is stable.
• Export volume has declined marginally vs last year to 220,269 MT.
• Export value increased by approximately 45% year-on-year due to higher prices.
• Market activity is expected to slow during the Tet holiday (end of January to mid-February), affecting processing and trade.

Indonesia Pepper Market Report

• Harvest season has concluded.
• Early 2025 market outlook predicts upward price movement due to limited supply and sustained demand.
• Domestic and export demand remains steady.
• Carry-forward stock levels are low.
• Prices for 550 GL and light berries have risen marginally compared to December.
• Production in 2024 was lower than in 2023, but favourable pricing increased exports to Vietnam and other markets.

India Pepper Market Report

• Crop is in the maturing stage; a small harvest has started in parts of Kerala.
• Most harvested material is immature, with bold pepper arrivals remaining low.
• Overall production is lower than last year due to climate changes.
• Domestic and export demand is gradually increasing.
• Moderate carry-forward stock levels has helped meet demand, but limited fresh arrivals is putting pressure on future supply.

Sri Lanka Pepper Market Report

• High demand for light berries has pushed prices upwards with the harvest nearing completion.
• Bold pepper arrivals remain limited causing prices to rise steadily.

Brazil Pepper Market Report

• Pepper harvest has started in regions of Espirito Santo and Bahia.
• However, persistent rains in Espirito Santo are delaying material inflow.
• Market demand is moderate.
• Prices have remained stable compared to December.
• Carry-forward stock levels are limited.

The Brusco team will keep you updated as the market progresses, so please talk to the team and get the latest information, so you can evaluate your best options. This will give you better visibility into stock levels and pricing, enabling more informed decision-making.

BBC reports over the weekend have identified that some ‘Italian’ tomato purees sold by some UK supermarkets appear to contain tomatoes that have been grown and picked in Xinjiang region of China using forced labour. Brusco’s supply chain doesn’t source from this region of China, so you can be confident with us.

Our customers will already be aware that Brusco supplies many household brands and major food manufacturers in the UK, so please reach out to us if you would like any help or assistance in securing a new ethical supply of great quality tomato ingredients, puree, chopped or sauce, plus organic if required in various formats.

You can rest assured in the authenticity of our frequently visited factories and suppliers. While the ‘Italian’ tomatoes have been reported as being sourced from China, we work with suppliers from 5 different countries to ensure we offer customers a risk-free supply chain of tomatoes direct from the country of origin.

As Brusco is a major importer and distributor of tomato ingredients, you can be confident that you are working with a partner that sources only the most ethical supply available. You can also be certain you’ll receive quality service and product integrity, recognised in Brusco’s ‘AA’ grade certification with BRCGS.

You can read more information on Chinese forced-labour here.

The technical team is on hand to discuss any questions you may have on the tomatoes market, so get in touch on technical@brusco.co.uk.

Alternatively, to discuss moving your tomato supply to Brusco, contact the team by phoning 01386 761 555 or email info@brusco.co.uk.

Although the UK garden pea harvest is still 2 – 3 weeks away, early indications show that availability may not be as good as 2023. This could push prices up for this season’s crop.

Talk to our Pea Expert

Volumes are largely impacted by the weather, so we still have time to see an improvement. As the season progresses, we will have more information on volumes and pricing.

Our Pea expert Zoey Baxter is ready and waiting to answer your pea related questions. To get started, here’s Zoey’s quick guide to the different grades of IQF Peas available to help you find what suits your needs:

🥗 AA & A Grade:

• Harvested early while tender and green
• Sweet flavour, great for salads and lightly cooked dishes

🥗 B Grade:

• Slightly more mature
• Balanced sweetness and texture, perfect for stir-fries, soups, and side dishes

🥗 C Grade:

• Fully developed, firmer peas
• Starchy and less sweet, ideal for stews and casseroles

🥗 D & DD Grade:

• Firmest peas
• Excellent for soups, maintaining their properties during cooking

For more information and market insights get in touch with our category management team today. Email info@brusco.co.uk or phone 01386 761555

To receive the latest updates the crop harvesting seasons for products in the Brusco range straight to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter here. 

Brusco has published its latest Apricot Market update for June 2024.

The update highlights that there is good news on the Turkish Apricot pricing as yields are looking positive compared to 2023, which should see an improvement in pricing.

The update picks out a number of market highlights including:

• Other than a small amount of frost damage, there have been no major weather impacts to date in Malatya (Brusco’s source) or the Manisa province further west.
• Larger sizes 2’s & 3’s will be up, and the overall yield is estimated to be in excess of 100,000mts, possibly approaching 110-120,000mts, double the realised 2023 tonnage.
• 2023 Apricot prices have been high in recent months due to dwindling stocks of raw material at the end of the season, with prices reaching 200K TL/6,190/USD/mt (USD/TL 32.30), however prices decreased sharply to around 150K TL, as the crop predictions looked good.
• 2024 contract pricing will be available soon and we are optimistic for more “palatable” pricing this season.

We are encouraging customers to talk to the team today, discuss your volumes & schedules, we can arrange FCL’s direct to your warehouse, call-off contracts and pallet load deliveries.

For further information, view the full apricot market update document here.

To contact the team, phone 01386 761555 or email enquiries@brusco.co.uk

The harvesting season for peppers in Almeria, Spain is currently running 2 weeks late and is starting off with very low yield being produced, due to the high temperatures during the fruit-setting process this summer. We won’t see any significant production until mid-October, as the temperatures hit levels of 50 degrees in the greenhouses, forcing some farmers to delay planting.

Netherlands crop season usually ends in October and passes the baton over to the Spanish to start theirs, however, their crop season has finished earlier, and a reduced amount of crop has been produced.

In China, the IQF pepper season is in full production and will last for another 2 weeks with strong demand reported. Lead times to the UK/Europe are currently at 2 months.

Peppers are in production in Egypt and will be arriving shortly in the UK.

What does this mean for Pepper prices?

Availability is going to be an issue, because of the reduced availability from the Netherlands and delayed harvest in Spain.  This has hiked prices for both the Lamuyo and California varieties.

According to sources from Fresh Plaza, the Lamuyo bell pepper is extremely popular within the Spanish market and with processing plants, as its shape is longer than other varieties, making it easier for production processing and yields.  The price of this variety has reached €4 per kilo in September.

The price of the California variety, which is more popular with the UK market is currently oscillating above €2 per kilo.

There is always a premium added to the product at the start of the season, but because of the supply challenges in the market, we are unable to foresee when these prices will be reduced.

Talk to the team.

As a Group, we understand that unprecedented weather has played a huge factor in the availability of many ingredients over the past couple of years, causing issues within the supply chain. We are always looking at alternative origins to try and maintain that supply, so our customers have options.

Talk to the team today on 01386 761 555 or info@brusco.co.uk to discuss your upcoming needs, so we can find a solution for your pepper requirements.