Exports of Spanish tomatoes to the US are expected to continue declining this season as a result of tough import regulations and an unfavourable euro/dollar exchange rate, which have effectively closed the North American market to the Spanish tomato trade.
Spanish fruit and vegetable exporter organisation Fepex has revealed that volumes are likely to be “nonexistent”, as the Mediterranean country’s two major supply zones Murcia and Almería struggle with profitability.
Murcia is not expected to ship a single container of tomatoes to the US throughout the 2007/08 season, following a gradual reduction in volumes since 2004 when the region exported 50 tonnes to the North American market.
Although neighbouring Almería will supply the fruit to the US, volumes are likely to be “insignificant”, Fepex said, after exports fell to 1,413 tonnes last season, down from 4,964 tonnes in 2002/03.
The organisation claimed the situation is Spain is also reflected across the European Union.
Exports of EU-grown tomatoes reached just 6,507 tonnes last year in comparison to 17,016 tonnes during 2004.
