Chinese tomatoes worry Portuguese producers

Portuguese tomato farmers are expressing great concern towards the invasion of Chinese tomato in the European market. China produces and exports much cheaper and not only to Europe but to other continents as well. The major concern to tomato growers is that the arrival of Chinese exported tomatoes to the European Market will threaten the stability of prices.

China is currently the world’s third largest producer with 2.8 million MT after the US and Italy. The Portuguese production is of around 1.2 million MT and has not seen any significant increase for years.

According to the secretary of Tomato Producers Association of Portugal what is needed is more investment in processed produce to sustain the production, to keep the prices at a good level and to be able to compete in the market. Other strategies would have to include the development of new products and the search for new markets, like Japan.

The Portuguese market currently consumes only 5% of the processed tomato produced in the country. The export goes mainly to the North European countries.

Tags: China, Portugal, export, European, Chinese, country