Secure Supply Now Whilst Product is Still Available
Spain’s tomato crop is facing significant pressure this season due to extreme weather and delayed harvests, and it’s already impacting the supply chain.
A heatwave hit just as plants were flowering, causing some to drop their flowers before they could turn into fruit (flower abortion), resulting in fewer tomatoes being harvested overall.
Due to cooler weather earlier in the season, the impact is not as severe as initially feared. However, the growing season is now running 2–3 weeks behind, pushing a larger portion of the harvest into September, when yields and quality are typically lower.
In response to this uncertainty, suppliers are moving quickly to manage risk, and that means closing order books earlier than usual. With tighter availability, the window to secure optimal pricing and volumes is narrowing fast.
Key Highlights from the Spanish Market
- Delays mean more tomatoes will be harvested late in the season, which is when the yields are typically lower.
- Less time to process tomatoes means processors are focusing on tomato paste.
- We are expecting fewer diced and passata products to be available in the market as a result.
If Spanish tomatoes are part of your sourcing strategy, now is the time to act. Volumes are down, quality is slipping, and products like diced and passata are already in short supply. Delays in the harvest and reduced yields mean suppliers are closing order books early, and once Spanish stocks run low, prices could rise quickly.
While pricing from other regions like Italy and Portugal remains stable for now, that could change fast if buyers start shifting demand to these origins. We’ve seen similar patterns in past seasons.
We recommend reviewing your upcoming needs immediately. Lock in your Spanish orders while you still can, and consider placing orders from other origins to stay ahead of any further tightening in the market.
