For years, the region of Extremadura, Spain's main tomato producer, has been trying to compete with Andalusia in terms of average yield per hectare. Andalusia obtains between 105,000 and 110,000 kilos per hectare, while in Extremadura it is normal to reach 90,000 at most. However, this year the average volume has stood at 96,000 (almost 5,000 more than last season), reaching 100,000 in certain areas of Vegas Altas del Guadiana.
As for the prices, they have been similar to last year's: about 75 Euro a ton; a price set in the contracts signed at the end of winter.
The report presented by the Technological Observatory of the Tomato for Processing, managed by the National Agro-food Technology Center of Extremadura (Ctaex), reveals remarkable figures for the 2019 campaign, including the fact that, in Spain, 2.8 million tons have been contracted in an area of 30,309 hectares.
In Extremadura, 2.05 million tons have been contracted this year, with over 23,200 hectares cultivated. The production has been distributed between 14 industries, with the Conesa business group leading the way. The company has processed 652,000 tons this summer in the region, to which we must add another 266,500 tons harvested in Andalusia through its own company there.
In Andalusia, by the way, a total of 741,000 tons have been contracted and 7,050 hectares have been cultivated, which entails a yield of 105,000 kilos per hectare.
In the rest of Spain (especially in the Ebro Valley), a total of 20,150 tons of tomatoes have been contracted and 553 hectares have been cultivated. The average yield is 79,000 kilos per hectare, according to the Ctaex statistical report.
Summary of 2018
The report prepared by the Ctaex Technology Observatory also collects data from last year. The production in Spain in the 2018 campaign eventually reached 2.8 million tons; that is, 8.04% of the global production.
In Extremadura, 21,495 hectares of tomatoes for processing were cultivated (1,700 less than in this campaign) and the final production (69% of the national total) stood at 1.9 million tons. The yield thus stood at 89,000 kilos per hectare.
Meanwhile, in Andalusia 5,740 hectares (1,300 less than now) were cultivated last year and 592 tons were produced. The yield was the same as in this campaign: 105 tons per hectare.
Source: hoy.es