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- Sophie
AMITOM crop update as of 26 March 2025
Bulgaria
Seedlings are currently in the greenhouses and planting should start around 15 April. The field preparations have been done with no issues. The forecast remains the same at 40,000 tonnes but it may increase if rumours that a new farming operation could produce an additional 10,000 tonnes are confirmed.
France
The forecast has been updated to 173,000 tonnes of which 20,000 tonnes of organic, from a total surface of 2330 hectares (340 hectares for organics, less than last year). Planting has not started due to the heavy rains in the south-east mainly and should start next week (early April) if the fields dry enough (Mistral wind is expected so it should be good). The prices this year will range between 110 and 133 euros per tonne for conventional production and 190 to 200 euros per tonne for organic.
Greece
The winter has been relatively dry but there has been enough rain so that water should not be an issue this season. Temperatures are still colder than usual. Planting was due to start this week but it has been postponed to next week as fields were wet. The season should be shorter than usual as farmers are not keen to plant for a late crop.
The forecast remains 450,000 tonnes.
Hungary
The total forecast is 80,000 tonnes (Univer 50,000 tonnes, Aranyfácán 25,000 tonnes, other 5,000 tonnes).
Iran
Planting is now starting in the south of the country, but the weather is variable due to some rains. Yields there are now 50 to 55 tonnes per hectares, up from 40 t/ha average a few years ago. Export of fresh tomatoes to neighbouring countries are up so it is difficult to forecast how much is going to be processed . it is however expected that the volume should be much higher than the 1.4 million tonnes of 2024, to about 2 million tonnes.
Italy
In the north, there has been a lot of rain in winter and spring: in Emilia Romagna (the main region of cultivation for north Italy) the cumulative daily rainfall to date is 265 mm (vs an average of 150 mm). This has led to an accumulation of water in the fields making it difficult to prepare them. Consequently, plantings which were supposed to start this week will be postponed, hopefully to next ones, but with a 10 to 15 days delay. It is expected that the number of hectares planted will be higher than last year, but the number is not yet known as contracts have not all been signed yet. All companies are keen to replenish stocks, both for bulk and for retail, following the large reduction in the crop size in 2024 (2.4 million tonnes instead of the 2.8 million tonnes expected) so the forecast is currently around 3 million tonnes expected.
In the South, on the contrary there is not enough water and the Occhito dam only contains abut 55 million cubic metres of water instead of 150 to 200 million on a normal year. Consequently, no water will be available from it for agriculture this summer. Farmers are trying to organise to get underground water. The surface planted in Puglia should therefore reduce by about 5 000 hectares, but this surface is in part compensated in other regions. Some OPs have agreed prices similar to those in the north, but most are waiting to see what surfaces are planted before contracts are signed with processors.
The overall forecast for Italy remains 5.6 million tonnes.
Portugal
In Portugal, we have had a lot of rain, even close to a storm last week with very strong winds which we are not used to. Due to so much rain in the last month, the fields are flooded. In a “normal” year, planting should start week 13-14, but considering the current situation now it is impossible to prepare the fields with the land being so wet. Consequently, the transplanting will be delayed to week 15-16 if the fields do not dry until then.
Now, to make previsions is quite difficult. More rain is expected for next week, but we will have to follow to see if, and what, will be the impact in terms of schedule for transplant. If planting starts too late there is the possibility that not all the surfaces may be planted.
According to the official information already available, the surface for Portugal has been reduced by around 1 500 hectares. Therefore, the processing forecast remains at 1.4 million tonnes.
Spain
The wet weather in March makes it difficult for farmers to plant both in Andalusia and in Extremadura.
In Andalusia, planting should have started on 7 March, but it will only happen next week on sandy soils are fields were too wet so far. Seedlings have had to be cut due to the delay and some surfaces may not get planted.
In Extremadura, planting should have started this week, but they could not as the fields were wet. More rain is expected next week which may delay operations further, making planning difficult. In this region surfaces have been reduced this year.
The forecast is raised from 2.4 to 2.6 million tonnes due to a higher production expected in Andalusia compared with last year.
Turkey
The contracting from the factories side has been going slower than expected. The farmers are reluctant to sign up as they do not like the price offered. The seed companies also report lower sales compared to previous years. The final number will be clear once the seedlings are in the ground as the non-contracted spot plantings are expected to be greater. For now, we will leave the forecast as before.
Ukraine
Transplanting should start in the second part of April. Until all planting is finalised the forecast for 2025 remains 550,000 tonnes.