Amitom

AMITOM crop update as of 9 September 2026

Sophie — Sat, 12 Sep 2026 16:08:20 +0000

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Sophie
September 12, 2026

AMITOM crop update as of 9 September 2026

Bulgaria

The weather is currently favourable (around 30°C) in the main tomato-producing regions (Stara Zagora, Plovdiv area). Some rain is expected in the west in the coming days. Yield is approximately 80% of forecast, about 10% lower than in 2025. Brix is maintained around 5.The harvest is expected to finish around September 20th. Mite infestations are a continuing problem. The cost of alternative pesticides is very high, making production less profitable. Collective European action — possibly through a tomato industry working group or round table — should be undertaken to present the issue to the EU Commission and seek solutions for effective and affordable mite control.

France

As of the end of last week, France had processed 108,000 tonnes, representing approximately 83% of the revised forecast of 130,000 to 132,000 tonnes (74% of the initial forecast), representing a reduction of around 12%. Current weather includes light rain and wind, but harvesting has not stopped, with temperatures expected to return above 30°C next week. Brix is approximately 5.08 but the defect rate is 8.3%, which is significant, and may be partially due to a growing problem with aeculops lycopersici mites (previously only seen in greenhouses, now appearing in open fields), compounding the effects of heat waves and sanitary stress. This mirrors issues reported in Italy and Spain via Tomato News and would need to be addressed by governments. The season expected to conclude around September 25th.

Greece

The crop is progressing very well. Factories in the south have already closed. Central and northern regions expect to finish by the end of next week. More than 90% has already been processed. The crop turned out better than expected despite some adverse weather at the start of the season, which fortunately did not affect significant areas. Brix is around 5 or slightly above. Quality is very good. The forecast remains unchanged. Rain is expected next Sunday–Tuesday but is not a concern as the campaign is nearly complete.

Hungary

The processing season has progressed steadily over the past few weeks, with generally good fruit quality and favourable soluble solids levels (around 5.4). The harvesting and processing pace has remained consistent, despite the somewhat smaller planted area compared with previous years. At some processors the processing campaign has now been completed. Across the country, the final phase of the season is currently underway. Following a short interruption in some areas, processing has resumed and the remaining crops are being harvested and delivered at a steady pace. The overall campaign is expected to be completed around mid-September. Based on the progress so far, the forecast for the total Hungarian processed tomato volume has been revised to approximately 65,000 tonnes.

Iran

There is no change from the previous report. The overall situation remains positive, with the season now moving forward at a faster pace.

Italy

In the North, the latest OI Nord figures for week 35 show cumulative deliveries of 2,3 million tonnes (payable weight) as of 30 August. The campaign remains the most advanced the North has ever recorded at this date, but the lead over the average is narrowing quickly and we are having a sharp decline in September. Quality continues to reflect the summer heat. Soluble solids (average at 4.87 °Brix) below and easing further week on week (4.76 in week 35). Defect rate is 4.93% and payment index is 94%. Organic tomatoes reached about 208,000 tonnes with brix 4.88, about 65% of the contracts, and the harvest is coming quickly to the end On the weather, after several weeks running well above the seasonal norm, maximum temperatures remain elevated. The week of 24–30 August brought scattered rain generally light but heavier in the Parma and Ferrara areas, with localised but intense hailstorms on Friday 28 across parts of Emilia-Romagna and the Lombardia with damages on late crop tomatoes. From today (9th September) and in the next days we will receive rain in North and Center Italy halting the harvest for some days. From a POs survey it has been reported that at the end of August the surface still to be harvested is from 20 to 30%, with possible lower yields on this fraction. The current working forecast for the North is maintained at around 3.25 million tonnes, with clear downside risk on the late crop. In the Centre and South, the campaign is progressing, but delivery rates are much slower than expected. Tomatoes are struggling to ripen. Several factories have begun closing after reaching 85–90% of their scheduled targets. By August 30th, 2.06 million tonnes had been processed. Companies are extremely concerned about rising costs, particularly energy. Natural gas is close to €80/MWh, and electricity and diesel costs are over 100% higher than pre-war levels. Transport costs for fresh tomatoes in the south are a major burden, exceeding €30 per tonne due to the large distances between fields in Puglia and processing factories. Some factories preferred to stop operations rather than run at low capacity with very high costs, given that the market is unlikely to compensate for these costs.

Portugal

After heavy rain two weeks ago that halted operations for approximately four to five days, the following week brought mild/cool temperatures. Last week returned to summer conditions (up to 40°C, stabilizing around 30–32°C). As of Monday 7 September, approximately 63% of the crop had been processed. This is broadly in line with normal progress for this point in the season, accounting for the rain-related delay. Brix levels remain low and are expected to be a characteristic of this season. Quality in new fields being entered is very good. Yield results vary significantly between fields. The next two weeks are critical. Some fields may continue until the end of September, though quantities will be lower. The forecast remains unchanged; a further update will be provided at the next meeting.

Serbia

Harvesting is going well, with dry, hot weather, and as of today 62% of the harvest has been done. The last rain was on 2nd July, so it is now the 68th day without rain. The quality of the tomatoes is good with average brix of 5.46, and average colour of 2.1. The average yield was 75t/ha on early hybrids, and 100t/ha with mid/late hybrids, although some producers hit with hail (even twice) and without water supply, are down to 40t/ha. Altogether the yield will be between 75 and 80t/ha. The harvest should finish around 1st October.

Spain

In Andalucia the last factory will close tomorrow. Yields were below expectations, as already reflected in the previously revised forecast. In Extremadura a couple of factories will already close this week, and most of the others will close between the 20th and 25th of September. Yields are also there below expectations, for similar reasons documented in recent Tomato News reporting. It is difficult to estimate right now the final production, so far we keep the forecast of 2,6 million tonnes.

Tunisia

The processing season is nearing the end with only 3 plants still operating with a daily input of 1,200 tonnes. To date 836,000 tonnes have been processed.

Turkiye

The crop in the south finished approximately one to two weeks ago. Other regions are progressing slowly toward the end. Factories are still operating at roughly 80–90% capacity, with no sharp decline yet. Quality of incoming raw material remains surprisingly good — tomatoes are red and fruits are firm. At least 15 more days of production are expected, with volumes slowly reducing. The weather forecast is mild, which helps tomatoes remain in the fields, and no rain is currently expected.

The forecast maintained at the previously reduced level of 2.2 million tonnes.

Ukraine

To date approximately 30% of tomatoes have been processed. Field yields are in line or slightly above expectations and factory yields are good. This year quality is perfect (far above historical average for early tomatoes). Some rains did cause some interruptions, but the biggest interruptions are linked to the Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians. If mid season varieties perform similar to early season, the forecast of 550,000 tonnes will definitely be reached.

AMITOM crop update as of 26 August 2026

Sophie — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 12:57:01 +0000

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Sophie
August 29, 2026

AMITOM crop update as of 26 August 2026

Bulgaria

No major new developments; the unusual August conditions with heatwaves and strong winds continue to be abnormal for Bulgaria. Issues include low colour, low yields (approximately 10% below normal). Another heatwave is expected in the coming days.

Egypt

Les évaluations menées au cours des 15 à 20 derniers jours auprès des associations agricoles et des communautés de producteurs ont révélé que les quantités fournies ne répondent pas aux attentes. La superficie ensemencée pour la récolte d’été a diminué d’environ 5 à 7 %, certains producteurs s’étant tournés vers d’autres cultures en raison de la hausse des coûts liés à la fertilisation, à la lutte contre les ravageurs et à l’énergie. La moyenne Brix est d’environ 4,9. Les évaluations des quantités et des superficies plantées se poursuivent ; des chiffres actualisés sont attendus d’ici les dix premiers jours de septembre.

France

At the end of week 34 (23 August) 80,000 tonnes had been processed, 55% of the expected total which is reduced to 145,000 to 150,000 tonnes due to the successive heatwaves affecting the mid to late season tomatoes: blossom end-rot, sunburnt and floral abortion are reducing yields, especially in the southern fields of the south-east region (Camargue area) than in the Drôme region. Average brix is 5.06 and defect rates of 8%. Temperatures are now down, with no more heatwaves expected, and the recent rains which have not affected the harvest.

Greece

Temperatures are relatively high (35–37°C) but not classified as heat waves; conditions are uncomfortable for people but not damaging for tomatoes. In the south, 80% of the surfaces have now been harvested and the season should end by 10 September. In the centre, 70% of surfaces harvested and the end expected around 15 or 20 September. Yields average 90 to 95 t/ha and fruit quality is good with brix around 5, a bit lower than in 2025. The forecast remains unchanged.

Hungary

The processing season started on 17 August. As mentioned in our previous updates, the unusually cool nights during certain periods slowed down the ripening process, and fruit maturity developed somewhat more slowly than initially expected. Since 23 August, however, the pace of processing has increased, and harvesting is progressing steadily. At present, approximately 25% of the expected crop has been harvested and delivered for processing. The overall situation remains positive, with the season now moving forward at a faster pace.

Iran

Harvesting of the new tomato crop has now started in northern and western regions of Iran, and tomato processing factories are currently operating and processing the new crop. At this stage, it remains difficult to provide an accurate estimate of the final crop volume, as harvesting is still in its early stages and yields are being affected by weather conditions. For the time being, we maintain our previous forecast of approximately 1.7 million metric tonnes of processing tomatoes for the 2026 crop. Weather conditions continue to be an important factor affecting the progress of harvesting. High temperatures and recent heat waves have created additional pressure on the crop and are influencing both harvesting schedules and tomato quality in some areas. There are also reports of sunburn damage on tomatoes in western Iran, although the overall impact on production and final yields is still difficult to quantify. Further information will become available as harvesting progresses and more fields are assessed. Processing factories across the main production areas are now active, with factories processing significant volumes of fresh tomatoes. An important development this season is that factories are processing more tomatoes than in previous years. This appears to be partly related to the current economic situation in Iran and reduced consumer purchasing power. With weaker domestic purchasing power and challenging economic conditions, a larger proportion of the tomato crop is being directed toward industrial processing rather than the fresh market. This increased processing activity could provide additional availability of tomato paste and other processed tomato products during the season.

Italy

In the North, the last OI Pomodoro release state that as of the end of week 33 (16 August), 1.76 million tonnes had been processed with an average brix of 4.9 (below the 2025 average), a defect rate of 4.8%; and a 95% payment index. Week 33 saw the highest weekly input for the last five years, and thus marked the peak of the production while volume started slowing down during week 34 which also saw a reduced brix of 4.83. It rained between 20 and 50 mm across tomato-growing areas (Piacenza to Ferrara) over the last weekend, causing a temporary harvest stoppage; harvesting restarted on Monday. POs report a very early crop and early harvest, even for late-transplanted fields so the campaign is expected to finish by mid-September at the latest, with a reduced flow of tomatoes from end of August onwards. The forecast remains 3.25 million tonnes. In the Centre and South, the campaign is wrapping up in Caserta (Campania) while it is in full swing in Puglia. Quality is good, but Brix levels are lower than usual. Agricultural yields remain normal for now, but there are significant concerns regarding the late harvest due to the July heat wave. It is still too early to quantify the impact of the heat wave on the late crop. The season in the south will be longer due to delayed transplanting caused by heavy rains in Puglia in April. There is an uneven ripening issue — the first line of tomatoes is ripening while the last line is still arriving, creating a harvesting dilemma similar to last year in some areas. The yield harvested will be less than the yield in the field, but given current market conditions, this is not expected to be a major problem. No heavy rain is forecasted in the short term, but some websites are predicting a very difficult September (though long-term forecasts are not fully reliable). The forecast remains 3.1 million tonnes, so the total for Italy remains 6.35 million tonnes.

Portugal

Portugal is experiencing very unusual August weather with heavy rain and thunderstorms since Sunday; some areas received 8–12 mm of rain. Some factories stopped operations on Monday as growers could not access fields; some factories attempted to continue working very slowly. Heavy storms again on the current day (morning/evening) have made field work impossible; harvesting is not possible today. Tomorrow, some showers are still expected but after Friday, conditions are expected to normalize, with harvesting resuming on Friday or Saturday. Fields that were ready for harvest need to be processed quickly once the sun returns. Late September fields still need to be evaluated; there were already question marks about yields from those late fields. Brix levels are the lowest seen in 25 years — below 5 on average (usual average is 5.2), attributed to the mild spring and weather conditions. Colour quality remains very good, which is typical for Portugal. As of Monday, approximately 40% of processing had been completed. Overall, the season is not expected to exceed the estimated volume and may be slightly lower, though it is too early to confirm.

Serbia

Harvesting is progressing without problems and 40% of the surface has been harvested to date. On the remaining 60%, we expect much better colour of tomatoes 2,1 – 2,2 vs 1,9 – 2 and yield more than 95 t/ha vs 80 t/ha now. In the future, we will focus on more heat resistant varieties.

Spain

In Andalusia two factories have already closed, and the rest will still work at least some days of September. Yields are generally 5 to 15% lower than expected. In Extremadura, 55 to 60% of the volume has been delivered already. Medium and late tomatoes have been affected by heat waves and mite attacks, resulting in lower yields. Light rains occurred last Monday with no significant impact so far. It is still difficult to give an accurate forecast, but the revised maximum forecast is 2.6 million tonnes, and it may be lower. Some rain is forecasted for today and tomorrow in Extremadura, but it is not expected to be heavy.

Tunisia

As of 23 August, 807,000 tonnes have been processed. At present only 5 factories are still open with a daily input of 3,400 tonnes of fresh tomatoes.

Turkiye

The harvest in the south, where lower surfaces than usual were planted this year, is now finished, while the other regions (Balıkesir, Bursa, Manisa) are all at peak harvest simultaneously, which is unusual as they are typically staggered. All factories are processing from their own local supply; no inter-regional tomato transport is occurring. Another ten days of peak are expected. Turkey has not experienced the same extreme high temperatures as other regions, so the impact on the late crop is still unknown. Clear skies are forecasted for the near future. Brix is between 4.8 and 5 depending on the area/factory, which is considered average to slightly high for Turkey. The forecast is reduced to 2.2 million tonnes due to forecast lower yields in the later crop and partially due to tomatoes being left in the field due to oversupply during the peak of the crop.

Ukraine

Everything is ok. Forecast remains the same. Early tomatoes are good from any side.

AMITOM crop update as of 12 August 2026

Sophie — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 15:02:16 +0000

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Sophie
August 13, 2026

AMITOM crop update as of 12 August 2026

Bulgaria

Farmers indicate that yield will be 10% lower than expected but brix is around 5. They report infestation by orobanche in two fields for the first time ever. Mites are also a problem due to the hot and dry weather. This pest has been an issue for several years and recommendations on potential treatments is requested from other AMITOM members, with the possibility of create an working group on the subject.

Egypt

no new data

France

By the end of last week, we should have reached the one-third mark of the harvest and therefore around 50,000 tonnes. The South-West got underway at the start of last week. All the processing plants are now up and running. At the moment, the quality is good, with a Brix slightly above 5, but there is still an overall 7.5% defect rate. This is partly due to organically farmed crops, where the level is higher. We still cannot get a clear picture of the impact of the five heatwaves we have experienced and are still experiencing this week. It is, of course, the harvests in late August and September that will be affected. Nor do we know what the weather will be like during that period. Depending on the varieties and farm conditions, some crops have a shorter growing cycle, whilst others are entering a new growth and flowering phase; added to this is the earlier-than-usual appearance of mites in the south-east. In short, planning the delivery of crops to the factory is proving extremely complicated… We are maintaining our forecast at 150,000 tonnes, but it may therefore be revised downwards at the end of the season.

Greece

The harvest is going well and all is normal. The weather is reasonable, with temperatures around 35°C. The South has already processed about 50% of the forecast and the Centre about 30%. Quality is good. Brix is around 5, slightly lower than last year in the Centre and slightly higher than last year in the South. The forecast is maintained at 450,000 tonnes.

Hungary

Everything is progressing according to plan. We are excitedly waiting for the start of harvesting next week. We are once again in the midst of the regularly recurring heat waves.

Iran

There is not much change to report. War conditions are complicating the situation.

Italy

In the North, the delivery figures from the latest OI Nord on week 31, show that cumulative deliveries reached 929,000 tonnes as of 2 August. This is the highest volume the OI has ever recorded at this point in the season, and roughly more than 50% above the five-year average for the same week. Week 31 alone brought in 415,000 tonnes, the strongest week so far and well above the 5-year average. Quality reflects the heat. The soluble solids on round tomatoes stands at 4.95, below average of 5.09 and easing week on week (4.89 in week 31). The defect rate is 4.56%, and the payment index is 96,8% Effective planted area in Northern Italy is confirmed at about plus 7% compared to last year (for integrated cultivation) and for organic crop up till 19 %. The main cultivated areas are Emilia-Romagna (63%), Lombardia (21%), Piemonte (9%) and Veneto (7%); Piacenza and Ferrara remain the two largest provinces. The weather has been the dominant factor. After localised rain and hail in late July (Ferrara, Ravenna, Mantua — several thousand hectares affected), a new intense heatwave set in at the start of August: maximum temperatures above 37°C, anomalies of +3–4°C. Ripening is accelerating fast. The heat wave seems to end beginning next week where some rainstorms are expected. Early crop has given average yield, but the producer organisations forecast a drop in yield after 20–25 August. On current final cultivated surfaces our working forecast is increased to 3,25 million tonnes for the North, but a certain risk for lower yields on the medium and late crop could affect the final result. In the Centre and South, processing is also faster than usual. By 10 August, we have already processed about 30% of total surface according to satellite survey, which is more than usual. Quality is good. Puglia will be at full capacity at the end of this week while Caserta is slowing down. Concerned by consequences of heat wave that is still on, we expect a drop in temperatures next week, they are currently still too high, so we are concerned about the late crop. The forecast is increased from 3.0 to 3.1 million tonnes. The total forecast for Italy is therefore raised to 6.35 million tonnes

Portugal

We have been quite lucky with temperatures with 28-31 °C in the day. dropping to 17-19 °C at nights, with some breeze, so good conditions overall. One factory is not yet opened but all the others are processing. At the beginning of this week, we were at 13- 14% of the harvesting. Brix is quite low, unusually low. Colour is quite good, within the average for Portugal. Not expecting any change in weather. The forecast is maintained but there may be some doubts about September fields as they had been affected before by the earlier weather.

Serbia

Harvesting started on 31 July, but after 10% of the surface we had to stop on 5 August because the ripening was not good, so we restarted today. We now have a good quality, with a brix at 5.2-5.3, the same as last year, but the heatwave damaged colour of tomatoes, even though we have nearly zero greens, many tomatoes are orange. We will continue harvesting and see again in two weeks. Up to now the average yield is 85 t/Ha. The forecast is maintained.

Spain

In Andalucia, 50% of the crop has been processed, with some factories already reaching 60%. Quality is good, we expect some losses, but it is too soon to estimate how much. In Extremadura, the average deliveries are about 30 to 35%. Quality is also good, but we have growing problems with mite attacks due to the phase-out of plant protection products used to control them. Yields are good so far, but we expect reduction in yields for medium and late harvests. The forecast is maintained at 2.7 million tonnes.

Tunisia

As of 10 August, the cumulative volume of fresh tomatoes received to date stands at 737,000 tonnes, with a daily processing rate of approximately 8,000 tonnes. Currently, 9 processing plants are in operation.

Turkiye

Most of the Factories are open as of today in the North and South. The first region of Turkey, Torbalı area is around 80% through. It is an area that already had lower planting initially, so it is not a surprise. The Bursa area has started as of this week and will reach peak very quickly, along with a Mid Region Salihli/Manisa which is also delayed. These two areas are likely to clash and cause an oversupply for 10-15 days. The later crop is there until October however yield reduction is expected due to heat stress for the later crop. As of today, we keep our estimation the same as it seems a lower yield is compensated for by more than expected planting in some smaller regions. The weather seems clear. The harvest quality is average as is the brix.

Ukraine

Our biggest concern is still the war, destroying infrastructures, houses etc. The weather is good for tomatoes; it’s one of the best years so far for the last 3 years. We did not get any complaints from growers. Early and mid-season look very good, late season tomatoes look like they suffered from the heat but still one month to go for ripening so they might still be ok. Harvesting should start by the end of this week. The forecast is maintained at 550,000 tonnes.

AMITOM crop update as of 29 July 2026

Sophie — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 15:29:00 +0000

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Sophie
August 1, 2026

AMITOM crop update as of 29 July 2026

Bulgaria

The harvest started last week with the last factory scheduled to start next week. Conditions are good to date and yield are as planned.

Egypt

The summer harvest is delayed by two to three weeks due to late transplant. Temperatures are currently very high at 39-40°C on average with peaks to 43°C and this will hopefully not continue into August. Factories are now running normally and there is no change to the forecast.

France

In the south-east the harvest started early on 14 July and to date 17,000 tonnes have been processed. Quality and yield are good for now but there are concerns regarding the later part of the crop following the succession of heatwaves, with a new one starting today: there is a risk of stress on the canopy, blossom end rot, sunburns and loss of yield. In the south-west harvest should start on 4 August.

Greece

Factories in the south started on 22 July, and in the centre slowly on the 24th. The crop is progressing well. Some rains and a short heatwave did not cause serious problems. The forecast remains unchanged.

Hungary

The weather is changing, after the heatwave came a period when the nights were unusually cool. Unfortunately, there is hardly any precipitation, only small, local showers. Extreme heat will return in the next few days. The forecast is unchanged.

Iran

There is not much change to report. War conditions are complicating the situation.

Italy

In the North, the harvest began very early: on 9 July with certain specialty varieties (datterini, cherry, etc.) and on 13 July with round tomatoes. Nearly all factories have been operating since last week. OI Pomodoro reported a total processed volume of 175,000 tonnes as of 19 July (a record for this date), with an average of 5.1 °Brix and a 4.2% penalty rate.

Rain and hail last week, mainly in the eastern part of Emilia-Romagna (Ferrara and Ravenna) and Lombardia (Mantua), affected several thousand hectares, with varying degrees of damage. The overall forecast is unchanged, but the mid- and late-season crop is likely to be affected by the heatwaves, with temperatures again expected to exceed 35 °C by day and 25 °C at night over the coming week. The early crop is ripening very quickly, and a sharp drop in volume is expected after 20–25 August, following a large production peak that may strain factories’ ability to absorb all the ripening fruit, given very limited spare capacity.

In the Centre and South, the harvest also started one week early in week 29 (w/s 13 July) in Caserta with good quality but with lower brix. In Puglia harvest, at high rate, will start next week with long tomatoes. High temperatures are accelerating ripening and causing some concerns for the mid and late part of the crop. There is spare capacity but limited by transport capacity in order to absorb a large peak.

Surfaces planted were measured at 38,000 hectares, +15.4% compared with 2025.

Forecasts remain unchanged at 3.1 million tonnes for the north and 3 million tonnes for the South.

Portugal

The harvest started this week. Temperatures have been stable after the first heatwave in early July and the crop looks promising.

Serbia

A strong heatwave is expected for the next ten days with night temperatures above 20°C. Most of the irrigation comes from rivers which are currently very low and in the north irrigation had to be stopped which may reduce yields in fields. Moreover, some surfaces were damaged by hail. In other areas conditions are good and yields averaging 90 t/ha are expected.

The total forecast is reduced by 5% to about 54,000 tonnes.

Spain

The harvest started during the second week of July in Andalusia and all factories are now at full capacity with pressure from the fields as tomato is ripening faster than expected. Yields are now good after a low start. Quality is good, with good brix and colour.

In Extremadura the harvest started on Monday 20 July and since Monday all plants are open. Early tomatoes are fine but there are concerns regarding the middle and late part of the crop which will be affected by the successive heatwaves, although it is currently difficult to estimate the losses.

Tunisia

As of 26 July, 533,000 tonnes had already been processed. Currently 19 factories are operating with a daily input of 19,500 tonnes.

During the second half of July, the Tunisian industrial tomato processing sector was affected by an exceptional heatwave that swept across the whole country. In several regions, temperatures exceeded 45°C, reaching 49°C in some areas, placing significant strain on agricultural activities and industrial facilities.

According to the National Institute of Meteorology (INM), this heatwave, which lasted from 14 to 27 July, came to an end with a widespread drop in temperatures and the return of rainfall in several regions, facilitating a gradual return to more favourable weather conditions.

In agricultural terms, the high temperatures accelerated the ripening of tomatoes, shortening the optimal harvesting period. In some fields facing a shortage of irrigation towards the end of the growing cycle, cases of sunscald on the fruit were observed, occasionally affecting their quality. Conversely, plots benefiting from controlled irrigation and managed in accordance with technical guidelines suited to mechanical harvesting withstood the high temperatures better thanks to more developed plant cover, thereby limiting the effects of the heat on the fruit.

Despite these difficulties, the sector has managed to maintain a daily processing rate of between 19,000 and 20,000 tonnes of fresh tomatoes, demonstrating the responsiveness of processors and the effective coordination between all stakeholders. This performance confirms that the overall impact of the heatwave remained limited and did not jeopardise the smooth running of the national processing season.

Despite particularly challenging weather conditions, the 2026 season thus confirms the adaptability of Tunisia’s industrial tomato sector, thanks to the efforts of producers, processors and public institutions, which ensured that operations continued under satisfactory conditions.

Turkey

The harvest only started slowly last Monday in the south and all factories are not yet open. There will be a slight delay in the north with the start expected around 8-10 August. Like in the Greece there has been some heavy rain near Bursa but no hail. The country has not been affected by the heatwaves. The crop is delayed but shows good development and there is no change to the forecast.

Ukraine

The forecast remains the same at 550,000 tonnes. There are enough tomato fields to achieve this goal. The weather in July was variable: hot at the beginning; Some rains and even hailstorms in the middle of month; heat wave last week; nice difference of day and night temperature. As for now, no significant damage or unusual pressure from weeds and insects.

AMITOM crop update as of 29 April 2026

Sophie — Sat, 02 May 2026 10:11:06 +0000

Latest news

Sophie
May 2, 2026

AMITOM crop update as of 29 April 2026

Bulgaria

Conditions have been good to date and planting should finish next week. There is no change to the forecast. The cost of energy is worrying the industry.

Egypt

The winter crop was finished in the first week of April, and now we are in transition period till the start of summer crop which expected to be by end of May/beginning of June. The forecast remains the same so far.

France

The forecast is still uncertain as price and volume negotiations are still ongoing but expected to reduce to 150,000 tonnes probably with a reduction of conventional surfaces, while organics should increase, for a total of less than 2,000 hectares. The weather is not good as there have been a lot of rains throughout the winter and fields are still wet. Transplanting should have started this week but may be delayed to next week as it is currently windy and cold.

Greece

Conditions so far have been very good and about 60% of the surfaces have been planted in the Centre and 65% in the South. Some rains are expected for the weekend and could slow down plantings. Farmers should not be affected by the rise in costs of fertilizer for this season as most had been bought before the start of the conflict. The average price for the season is about 115 euros per tonne delivered, with variations for quality and between factories as there is no industry-wide agreement.

Hungary

Transplanting will begin at the weekend. Due to the drought, there will be pre-irrigation in most places. Yearly forecast remains unchanged.

Iran

No new data

Italy

In the North, the framework agreement on price was reached at the end of March with an average price of 137 euros per tonne ex field including premiums for late varieties and variations based on quality parameters. Contracts were all signed by 20 April and the contracted surfaces will be available at the end of April while the effective surfaces will be available at the end of June. Planting started in early April and should finish around 10-15 June. To date about 35% of the surfaces have been planted, which is normal. The weather is good and the plants are developing well. In the Centre and South, the good news is that following heavy rains the Occhito dam is full at more than 200 million m3 for the first time in three years so there will be no issue with irrigation in Puglia this year. Transplanting was delayed but plants are developing well. All is going well in the other areas. Prices have not yet been agreed: the war has increased costs of energy and fertilizers making negotiations difficult. Another meeting is planned next week. Current forecasts remain unchanged at 2.8 million tonnes for the south and 3 million for the north.

Portugal

Planting started two weeks late due to the wet winter but has been progressing well and 51% of the surfaces were expected to be planted at the end of this week. The weather has been quite good in the last four weeks but rain today could interrupt planting for a day or two. There are some concerns over fertilizers but it should be fine for this season.

Serbia

Transplanting started on 17 April and to date 115 ha (15% of total surface planned in Serbia) have been planted. The weather is rather good with temperatures between 16°C and 23°C, but some days morning are chilly at around 5˚ C, so plants are not growing. Nice warm weather is expected after the 1st of May. The forecast remains the same.

Spain

Planting operations have been running smoothly and on time in all regions as after a rainy winter the spring has been dry so far. In Extremadura about 60% of the surfaces have been planted to date, but rain is expected this week and may interrupt the activities for a day or two. In Andalusia planting should finish in about a week. No change in the forecast.

Tunisia

No new data

Turkey

There is no major changes from last meeting. Planting down south is now past half-way and it started this week in the Bursa area. It has been a wet April but the weather is clear and dry with a drop in temperatures for 2-3 days this week. We are still expecting a late crop and there is the possibility of an increase in surface area with late planting however it is still too early to say. Fertilisers are not expecting to have an effect on the contract prices but transport cost may be affected in the season if the conflict effects carry on.

Ukraine

Transplanting was delayed by frost but started today.

AMITOM crop update as of 25 March 2026

Sophie — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 06:00:00 +0000

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Sophie
March 31, 2026

AMITOM crop update as of 25 March 2026

Bulgaria

Due to the rise of energy and fertiliser prices (+40%) and the planned refurbishment of the largest factory Balkan , the volume processed in 2026 should see a 50% reduction to 20,000 tonnes. The weather is currently a bit wet, but it should not be an issue to start planting towards the end of April as planned.

Egypt

The forecast remains the same at 800,000 tonnes.

France

Greece

The weather is nice and fields have been prepared for planting which should start this week in the South and next week in the Centre. The main worry is the effect of the war on energy and fertiliser prices despite some government assistance. The forecast remains 450,000 tonnes. Prices have been made public and average about 115 euros/tonne delivered, with some variations.

Hungary

The current forecast is still circa 70,000 tonnes. The plantings in the nurseries started last week.

Iran

There is currently a high level of uncertainty and communication is difficult. Iran has temporarily banned the export of tomatoes and tomato-based products under the current circumstances. More information will be sent when available

Italy

The situation in Northern Italy is favourable in terms of overall water availability (we had a rainy winter) and also regarding soil preparation.
The negotiation of volumes and economic conditions between processors and growers’ associations has experienced a series of delays and difficulties due to changed energy cost conditions (which affect not only the fuels used for farming operations but also cultivation costs such as technical inputs including nitrogen fertilizers). The negotiation is expected to close by March 30th.
We maintain the forecast issued in February (3 million tonnes).

In Centre-South Italy, the situation is better than last year, the water availability is fine in several areas, but while Occhito’ dam is in a better situation, it is not enough.

As usual, the processors and growers’ associations are waiting for the North to set their price and only after they will start negotiations.
The international situation with the blockade of Hormuz is creating many concerns about the consequences for the costs of diesel and fertilizers, and this will not help negotiations.
The forecast is updated to 2,8 million tonnes.

Portugal

Portugal was affected by several storms which resulted in floods in all the tomato growing area. The borders of some fields by the river Tagus were damaged which means water flooded land. At the moment we are having good Spring weather which will help for drying some areas still with water. The start of transplant is planned for the 6th of April. Therefore, for the time being we keep the estimation for 1.3 million tonnes. Prices for the season are about 106-107 euros per tonnes ex field as reported in the press.

Serbia

So far, the season has been good and expectations are for 57,000 tonnes to be processed if yields of about 90 t/ha are reached like last year.

Spain

The winter has been good in terms of rain and reservoirs in Andalusia and Extremadura are full which should ensure a good water supply for the next four years. The weather is now good and planting started last week in Andalusia and will next week in Extremadura. Prices have been agreed at about 107 euros/tonne ex field or 115 euros/tonne delivered but some farmers are now asking for an increase due to the rising costs of energy and fertilisers. The forecast is raised to 2.75 million tonnes.

Tunisia

At this stage, we do not yet have any processing forecasts for the current season. The only data currently available relates to the planned area under cultivation, estimated at around 15,300 hectares.

Turkey

From the information gathered surfaces may be slightly reduced in the south and stable or slightly increased in the Bursa area. The weather has been wet last week, and more rain is expected next week so planting il be a bit later than usual. There are still stocks of products, mainly canned paste and exports are reduced due to unfavourable exchange rate. The production is expected to be between 2.4 and 2.5 million tonnes. There are no public figures on prices but contracts are currently about 525 TRL delivered, equivalent to 100 euros, although famers are requesting increased following rising costs, or they may reduce the fertiliser use, and maybe yields.

Ukraine

Fields are ready, growing in nurseries started in time, transplanting is scheduled for the end of April. Fertilisers are available, but prices are way from reasonable, and energy price s are also up. The forecast will likely be reduced in May depending on the real situation on the ground. The battle line remains the same as a year ago.

Polimark in Serbia join Amitom in 2026

Sophie — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 15:30:51 +0000

Polimark, Serbia’s leading producer of processed tomato products, has officially taken the lead in representing the country within the global tomato processing sector by joining AMITOM as an Associate member in January 2026.

By spearheading Serbia’s accession, Polimark positions itself at the forefront of international collaboration, highlighting its expertise in tomato processing, innovation in food production, and commitment to industry excellence.

As Serbia’s official representative, Polimark will connect with top tomato processors worldwide, exchange knowledge on best practices, and participate in initiatives that drive growth and sustainability in the processed tomato market. This milestone underscores Polimark’s strategic role in shaping Serbia’s presence in the Mediterranean and global tomato industry, enhancing the visibility of domestic tomato products on the international stage.

Polimark’s leadership in processed tomato production is built on decades of experience, cutting-edge manufacturing capabilities, and a focus on delivering high-quality tomato products to both domestic and international markets. By joining AMITOM, the company reinforces Serbia’s contribution to global discussions on tomato production trends, innovation in processed foods, and sustainable agriculture practices.

This achievement not only elevates Polimark as a key player in the Serbian tomato sector but also showcases the country’s potential in the global processed tomato industry. Through strategic partnerships and active engagement in international platforms, Polimark continues to strengthen Serbia’s role as a reliable source of premium tomato products, fostering innovation, collaboration, and growth in the sector.

Located in the heart of the Balkans, Serbia benefits from fertile soils and a favorable continental climate, ideal for tomato cultivation. Historically, Serbia has been a significant producer of tomatoes, supplying both domestic and regional markets. Today, the country continues to grow and process substantial volumes of tomatoes, with modern companies like Polimark leading the sector. While domestic production meets much of the local demand, Serbia also imports certain tomato products to complement local supply. The consumption of fresh tomatoes remains high, reflecting their importance in the Serbian diet and cuisine.

A Serbian Success Story in Tomato Processing

Polimark was established in 1989 as a small trading company, initially focused on equipment and food distribution. By 1992, the company began producing its first branded product — ketchup — launching its journey into food production. Over the following years Polimark significantly expanded its product portfolio through organic growth and acqusition, to include mayonnaise, mustard, cooked and canned tomato products, sauces, condiments, universal spices, and plant-based cooking cremes and drinks.

During the early 1990s, Polimark made a strategic decision to focus on ketchup production at a time when the domestic industry was still developing. This early initiative laid the groundwork for the company’s growth into one of the most recognizable and trusted food brands in Serbia and the wider region.

Polimark was the first company in Serbia to introduce ISO 9001:2000, and later implemented internationally respected food safety standards such as HACCP, IFS, and BRC, demonstrating a long‑standing commitment to quality and consumer safety that continues today.

As the business matured, Polimark expanded its operations and organizational structure. In 2005, the company opened its modern production complex in Zemun, which remains its headquarters and main manufacturing hub.

Building on decades of expertise in production and quality management, Polimark began investing in its own tomato plantations by the end of 2024. Today, the company manages 500 hectares of domestic tomatoes, completing the supply chain from farm to fork and further strengthening its position as a leader in Serbia’s tomato processing industry.

Polimark fully implemented the investment in tomato cultivation and processing, with a total of €15 million in CAPEX and operating expenditures. The investment covered the entire value chain — from harvesters, irrigation systems, transplanters, tubs and transport trailers for tomato, to the expansion of the tomato processing facility, including a newly installed boiler room.

In the first year of operations, production was 35,000 tonnes of tomatoes, resulting in around 5,525 tonnes of tomato paste. With 395 hectares harvested, the average yield amounted to 89 tonnes per hectare.

Looking Ahead: Polimark’s Future in Serbia’s Tomato Industry

Today, Polimark operates with modern automated facilities capable of producing tens of thousands of tons of tomato products annually, including bulk tomato pastes, retail tomato sauces, passata, and foremost, ketchup.

Polimark’s growth and success have made it a key player in Serbia’s agrifood sector. Its leadership in processed tomato categories — including ketchup and tomato sauces — is backed by decades of consistent product quality and strong consumer recognition throughout the Balkans and export markets.

AMITOM crop update as of 22 October 2025

marion — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 07:30:34 +0000

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marion
October 28, 2025

AMITOM crop update as of 22 October 2025

Egypt

Nothing changed from the last update

France

The campaign ended at the end of week 42 in the South-West with no losses. This is not yet the case in the South-East for a handful of hectares that were not yet fully ripe. This could end at the end of week 43 or at the very beginning of week 44. We have exceeded the volume contracted at the start of the season by nearly 10,000 tonnes and should therefore reach a total net volume of 185,000 tonnes with weighted penalties on volumes for each production run of 7.23% and a weighted brix of 5° for the factories that sent the information. The end of the season has been marked by difficulties in achieving ideal ripeness for harvesting the last plots, particularly in the south-east. Over the last ten (even 13…) years, 2025 ranks among the best years, except that the other two, 2016 and 2017, with slightly more than 185,000 and 193,000 tonnes, included an additional factory that is no longer in production. We can therefore consider this to be the best season in the last ten years.

Greece

The final volume is 515,000 tonnes.

Hungary

The season ended with approximately 97,000 tonnes.

Iran

The 2025 Iranian tomato crop has been confirmed at 1.8 million tonnes, in line with earlier forecasts. Several factories are still in operation, and processing is expected to be completed by the end of October. Overall, the season is progressing as anticipated.

Italy

The particularly long and complex 2025 season has ended with a production of 5.8 million tonnes from 78,695 hectares. In the North, the final processed volume was 3.12 million tonnes (+27.6% compared to last year) thanks to large volumes delivered in September after a difficult start of the season. Average yield on the 45,030 hectares planted (+ 8%) were at 69.3 tonnes per hectare significantly lower than the five-year historical average of 73.2 t/ha. The season was, however, characterized by excellent quality, with a good colour and an excellent Brix level of 5, which resulted in a positive payment index, higher than the maximum recorded in the previous five years. In the Centre and South, a total of 2.71 million tonnes were processed (-5.3% compared to 2024), but the production of whole peeled tomatoes dropped by 20% due to low agricultural and processing yields, while production costs increased notably due to a significant increase in the price paid for tomatoes (up to 40% above the planned average price).

Portugal

The campaign is finished in Andalucía and Extremadura. There are still some factories working in the Ebro valley that should finish this week or in the first days of the next. We estimate final production is about 2,4 million tonnes.

Spain

The season is nearly over in Andalusia with only one factory still running. In Extremadura factories have started to close and the season should end around 12 October. It rained last weekend, and operations stopped for a day. In the North, the harvest is going well. Factories are still at full capacity and should operate until 20th October. The overall forecast remains 2.4 million tonnes.

Tunisia

As of 19 October, only one unit is still operating and the total quantities processed amount to approximately 938,000 tonnes.

Turkey

The production estimate is confirmed at 2.2 million tonnes.

Ukraine

Processing is not finished yet and the total volume should be between 450,000 and 480,000 tonnes.

AMITOM crop update as of 1 October 2025

Sophie — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 07:04:15 +0000

Latest news

Sophie
October 10, 2025

AMITOM crop update as of 1 October 2025

Egypt

Nothing changed from last meeting. We are in transition period till the Nili Crop that is supposed to start by November till December. The forecast remains the same

France

At the end of September the volume processed was 161,000 tonnes which is 92% of the contracts, with an average brix of 5 and 7.2% of penalties due largely to a lot of green tomatoes. In the Southwest processing it at 80% of contracts. There was a lot of rain in the Southeast last week with up to 130 mm in two hours in some, luckily less on the tomato fields but the weather is better this week, with wind drying the fields and no rain forecast. The harvest should finish in 15 to 20 days at the level of the contracts of 175,000 tonnes, maybe slightly more.

Greece

The last factory closed last Sunday. It was a very smooth season with a total volume processed of about 510,000 tonnes.

Hungary

The season ended last week, with excellent harvest averages and very good quality. According to the previous forecast, this year’s processing season closed with a higher quantity, approximately 97,000 tonnes.

Iran

The crop is delayed and factories will still be running for another 2 to 3 weeks or maybe until the end of October. Some rain in the north did not really affect the season. The forecast is confirmed at 1.8 million tonnes. The main challenges are due to the political tensions causing uncertainties on the markets.

Italy

In the North, the last official figures show that as of 21 September, 2.85 million tonnes had been processed of which 350,000 tonnes in the last week (week 38), with an average brix of 5.05, 4.9% penalties and a payment index of 101%.
In the last week (week 39) very small volumes were processed due to widespread rains, especially in the West, with around 80 mm in some areas. The weather is better this week and harvesting has fully resumed. The season is however nearing the end with many factories already closed and the others closing at the end of the week. Only one factory is expected to operate next week. The total forecast remains 3 million tonnes.

In the Centre and South, the weather in September has been very good, better than average, and the volume processed is higher than expected, notably for the long varieties. Quality remains good, with good colour although brix levels have decreased as is normal for the season. Many factories closed at the end of September although some are still running. The expectation is now 2.6 million tonnes, bringing the total for Italy back to 5.6 million tonnes.

Portugal

The last two weeks have been quite good for the time of the year with one very good week followed by some rain last Saturday and Sunday which was not significant and only slowed operations temporarily. The weather is currently good with temperatures of 27-28 °C with nights at 15-17°C. As of last Sunday, 82% of the forecast of 1.3 million tonnes had been achieved, and there are still significant volumes to be harvested. The season should end around 12-15 October. Quality remains good with good colour and brix around 5°.

Spain

Tunisia

The total volume processed in 2025 was 935,000 tonnes. The season is now finished.

Ukraine

The forecast is reduced to 500,000 tonnes, or maybe less.

AMITOM crop update as of 17 September 2025

Sophie — Sun, 21 Sep 2025 11:42:41 +0000

Latest news

Sophie
September 21, 2025

AMITOM crop update as of 17 September 2025

Bulgaria

Half of the surfaces have now been harvested and factories are running at full capacity. The quality is better than last year with an average brix slightly over 5. The season should finish on target at the end of September.

Egypt

The summer crop is almost done with about 98% of the volume and will finish by 20th September. It is going well at the moment. Then there will be a transition period with the small Nili crop until the end of December before the winter crop starts in January.

France

At the end of last week 140, 000 tonnes had been processed with 7% penalties and an average brix of 5.08. This is 80% of the contracts. The quality is good but more and more green fruits are delivered to the factories. A few small plants have already closed but the harvest should continue for another 2 to 3 weeks and should reach the forecast of 175,000 tonnes or maybe reach 180,000 tonnes. Some rain is expected in the south-west next week, and maybe in the south-east too.

Greece

The season is finished in the South and it will continue with small quantities until the end of September in the Centre where already 90-95 % of the volumes have been processed. In the centre the farm yields are very high and some of the tomatoes will not be harvested. The overall forecast is raised to 510,000 tonnes. Brix averages 5 and colour is good at 2.30-2.35.

Hungary

Leaving mid-September behind, we could be approaching the end of the season this weekend. However, the harvest has been hampered by rains in the past week, so the previously smoothly progressing processing has been disrupted by the precipitation. As previously reported, both the yield averages and the quality remain excellent. The quantity forecast has increased accordingly; we expect the total quantity to be around 95,000 tonnes.

Iran

The situation has improved and there are more tomatoes and factories are at now at full capacity. The weather has cooled down to the high 20°C which favours the harvesting, and there is no issue with water. Consequently, the forecast may increase to 1.8 million tonnes and maybe more as there are tomatoes available and low prices on the market.

Italy

In the North, the last report available from OI Pomodoro North is updated to 07/09 with 2.18 million tonnes processed brix average of 5.15 and penalties of 4,18%. The week from 1st to 7 September shows a volume of 263,000 tonnes delivered with a weekly average brix of 4.87 that is lower compared to the previous weeks and quite normal for late crop tomatoes. Quality remains good.
For last week that ended 14 September official figures are not available yet, but we expect to have processed more than 300,000 tonnes since the rain we had was very limited and did not interrupt the harvest.
From now on, there are almost two weeks left of harvesting for late tomatoes and at the end of September many processors will finish. In October will remain a very little quantity.
We keep the forecast at 3 million tonnes which is an ambitious goal at the moment given the delivery situation, but we’ll see how the harvest evolves this week and if the weather conditions (a low pressure system is expected to pass at the beginning of next week) will allow us to reach this target or not.

In the Centre and South, 2.05 million tonnes had been processed as of 8 September with data from last week still being collected. Heavy rain of up to 140 mm last Wednesday on the Tyrrhenian side stopped the harvest until Monday but it did not affect Puglia. The harvest is now progressing well with full volumes since yesterday. Quality is good with less green than earlier on. Yields are very poor in areas irrigated with the Occhito dam, sometimes as low as 25 tonnes per hectare and the average yields are expected to be around 75 t/ha, against a normal 80 t/ha.

The total expectation for Italy remains 5.5 million tonnes.

Portugal

On the 7th of September we had the first rain that was mainly during the night with no major consequences. Last week and specially this week the weather is quite good with temperatures between 30-35ºC and evenings between 13-16ºC with cool mornings.
The quality remains quite good, with very good colour, but the average brix remains low at 5.0 which is clearly a characteristic of this season.
On the 14th of September 55% of the estimated volume for Portugal had been harvested even if not all factories are at the same level of processing.
There is a considerable area to be harvested where tomato fields are still green which means the crop will continue into October.
In the area of Alentejo, the yields through the harvesting have been lower than usual, and in the area of Ribatejo current fields being harvested for the last two weeks have improved compared with the beginning of the season. Since there is still half of the crop to go, the forecast is kept for now at 1.3 million tonnes as any change will depend on the next weeks to come.

Spain

In Andalucia the season is almost finished with only one factory still running. Yields were the lowest ever and production is 20% lower than expected.

In Extremadura, in the Vegas Altas, factories should all close between 20 and 30 September. Field yields were also 10 to 20% lower than normal.

In the Vegas Bajas the harvest could continue until 10-12 October if weather conditions are good.

To date, the weather has been good in September with only one day of rain and good temperatures to date. The final result will depend on the weather in the next couple of weeks but the forecast of 2.4 million tonnes is maintained.

Tunisia

As of 15 September, only two factories remain open with a total volume processed to date of 934,000 tonnes. The season is nearing the end.

Turkey

The harvest is finished in the south and has a maximum of ten days more to go in the Bursa area. Factories are running at a low capacity now and quality is average to good. The weather is good with no rain forecast.

In the Konya region the harvest will continue until mid October but surfaces were reduced this year.

The overall forecast remains 2.2 million tonnes.