News
The 2026 processing season is now ending in most countries and the final production volumes will be unveiled during the 2026 Tomato Conference in Parma on 28 October.
AMITOM COUNTRIES
BULGARIA
The harvesting finished on 5th October. Yields where about 10% lower this year at about 70 t/ha due to intense heatwaves during June and July. Brix levels were approximately 4.5–4.7, lower than usual.
Sustained high temperatures, particularly overnight, prevented tomato plants from recovering physiological function during crucial phases of development. This heat caused widespread pollination failure and resulted in undersized, seedless (parthenocarpic) fruit. Late-season crops suffered the most severe damage as key growing phases coincided directly with peak temperatures.
Total production was approximately 20,000 tonnes, processed by only two companies, as one being refursbished did not process in 2026.
FRANCE
Only a few tonnes are remaining to be processed this week and next week to slightly exceed at total of 137,000 tonnes, 94% of the potential of 145,000 tones.
GREECE
The processing season ended with an estimated total volume of 440,000 tonnes as previously reported.
ITALY
In the North, based on figures released by the interprofessional organisation as of 27 September cumulative deliveries stood at 3.18 million tonnes, including approximately 246,000 tonnes of organic tomatoes. Average Brix was very low at 4.78, with the last week recording 4.42 — significantly below the previous year. All companies have now closed: most finished at end of September, a few in early October. Good weather in the final two weeks allowed recovery of late-ripening crops.
Final figure is expected to exceed 3.2 million tonnes, slightly below the forecast of 3.25 million tonnes.
In the Centre and South, some factories are still operating. As of 27 September, Southern Italy had recorded 3.04 million tonnes. The final volume may come in slightly below the forecast of 3.15 million tonnes.
PORTUGAL
The last factory closed on Sunday 4th October. The final total volume will be available in a few days, but it is expected to be close to the earlier estimate of 1.3 million tonnes. Quality was lower after September 17–20, with a drop in field yields and a higher proportion of less mature tomatoes. Earlier in the season (August), some fields achieved yields above 110 t/ha, while others fell below 90 t/ha. Generally, Brix levels were lower than Portugal’s historical averages.
SERBIA
Total production reached approximately 55,000 tonnes, which is 4–5% below prediction. Average yield was 72 t/ha, compared to 82 t/ha last year, a 10% decline year-on-year. Brix for Polimark (representing approximately 75% of total Serbian volume) was 5.7, described as “rather good.”
SPAIN
Processing is now finished in both Andalusia and Extremadura, and the north is expected to continue until around the 20th of October. Final estimated production is expected to be approximately 2.57 million tonnes, slightly below the earlier estimate of 2.6 million tonnes. Average yield is 86 t/ha, against a contracted expectation of 93 t/ha. Andalusia production was approximately 12% below forecast and Extremadura approximately 8% below forecast.
TUNISIA
The crop ended with 840,000 tonnes processed.
TÜRKIYE
There is no change from the previous report. Only 2-3 factories are still working at the moment for a very few more days.
UKRAINE
There is approximately two weeks of processing remaining. Total production is expected to reach approximately 500,000 tonnes. Tomato quality was acceptable for most of the season but has declined slightly toward the end. Factory utilisation has been satisfactory.
OTHER NORTHERN HEMISPHERE COUNTRIES
CALIFORNIA
The estimate is to process 350,509 metric tonnes (386,370 short tons) this week. At the end of this week (week ending 10 October) we will have processed 9,274,711 metric tonnes (10,223,619 short tons). Harvest will continue for another 10 days or so with a little volume left. The estimate should be revised to 9.34. million metric tonnes (10.3 million short tons). The final number should be very close to that.
JAPAN
Harvesting across Japan is scheduled to be completed by mid-October.
SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE COUNTRIES
BRAZIL
Harvest progress to date is estimated at 85% of the total now estimated at c. 1.31 million tonnes. Rains are causing delays and volume losses across all regions of the country, with the state of São Paulo suffering the greatest proportional impact and estimates indicate the harvest will extend into the last week of October, forecasts call for significant rainfall in the coming weeks, further battering areas currently being harvested.
SOUTH AFRICA
The South African season is basically over and should end in October on 125,000 tonnes processed for 2026 as contracted.
NON MEMBER COUNTRIES
RUSSIA
The 2026 processing season in Russia is still under way: harvesting in Astrakhan started on 8 August and will continue until mid-October (another one or two weeks for final results), so the figures below are preliminary.
The current estimate for tomatoes processed is about 670,000 tonnes: Astrakhan region accounts for about two-thirds of the volume (around 485,000 t), followed by Kabardino-Balkaria (around 110,000 t) and smaller volumes in Volgograd and Krasnodar.
There are no official statistics on processing-tomato acreage; based on the plants’ sourcing we estimate 10,000–15,000 ha nationally.
The spring was cold and wet, which delayed transplanting and pushed the start of harvest back by one to two weeks. The Volga spring flood was one of the best in 20 years, so irrigation water was ample, and July brought heat of up to 38–40°C. During the harvest the main problem was a diesel shortage, with prices roughly doubling since February and longer delivery times, although no farms had to stop work. Labour remains tight.
The main external pressure is Chinese paste. Chinese concentrate diluted in Russia caps domestic paste prices and makes growers cautious about adding acreage.
For 2027 we expect to repeat 650,000 – 670,000, with upside towards 800,000 tonnes if the new third processing line in Astrakhan comes on stream in time for the season.
Source: WPTC
