"According to forecasts drawn up on May 1st, 2025, French tomato production for the fresh market is estimated at 491,800 tons for the 2025 season, which is 9,800 tons less than in 2024 (-2 %). In April 2025, prices were 12% higher than in the 2024 season and 3% higher than the 2020-2024 average for the same month," according to the Agreste economic outlook.
Sharp drop in acreage in the Center-West
The national area sown to tomatoes for the fresh market in 2025 is expected to be similar to last year (-0.5%), at 2,774 hectares. However, it will be 2% higher than the 2020-2024 average. French tomato production for the fresh market is estimated at 491,800 tons in 2025, which is 2% lower than last year. The 3% increase in production in the South-East basin does not offset the decline in production in other basins, especially when linked to the reduction in cultivated areas in the Center-West basin (-8%). Overall, tomato production in 2025 will also be 2% lower than the average for 2020-2024, due to production in the West basin being well below its five-year average (-10%).
Weather conditions were relatively favorable early in the spring, with satisfactory levels of light in the Center-West and South-West basins, which encouraged the growth of the tomato plants. However, many greenhouse growers opted to plant varieties resistant to the ToBRFV virus, and the sizes observed so far are smaller. On the other hand, the South-East basin has been affected by a lack of light, and production, both in greenhouses and outdoors, was delayed compared with a normal season.
Marketing: A fairly satisfactory start to the season
The start of the tomato season has been characterized by sustained trade in large fruits, thanks to a strong demand that has enabled production to be sold smoothly. The situation is more complex for small fruits, with an already large supply and competition from low-priced Moroccan imports, which have resulted in lower prices for French growers. The month of April began with an insufficient supply, leading to a fluid market and high prices, followed by the rapid increase in supply at the end of April (arrival of production from the Southeast), which caused prices to fall, although the demand was stimulated by favorable weather.
Between January and March 2025, tomato exports (96,200 tons), including significant volumes of re-exports, were down by 19% and imports by 13%, at 183,400 tons, compared to the same period last year. The foreign trade deficit in volume terms (87,200 tons) fell by 4% from last year during the period under review.
Source: Agreste
