In Italy, bell pepper prices are under pressure due to Dutch competition and weak demand, with current wholesale prices below break-even levels. Meanwhile, Carmagnola producers remain optimistic thanks to good growing conditions and the absence of viral disease.
Spain is dealing with an oversupply in Murcia, where prices have dropped sharply due to delayed harvests and pressure from Dutch volumes. The Netherlands and Belgium report weak prices despite early production and favorable weather, with yellow peppers particularly underperforming.
Germany's market is stabilizing with Dutch supply leading, while domestic production remains limited and more expensive. France has seen rising demand with the arrival of summer, although early price competition from imports delayed the start of local supermarket programs.
In North America, a tight supply following poor growing conditions in Georgia is driving prices up despite mixed demand. South Africa is experiencing a 66% price increase compared to last year due to reduced volumes and severe shortages in Cape Town.
Egypt's season ended in June, supported by strong demand from Gulf and European markets and improved logistics that boosted exports. In Morocco, high demand and expanded acreage were offset by lower yields caused by adverse weather, with the next season expected to remain climate-dependent.
Italy: Prices under pressure as Dutch competition and weak demand impact growers
A major producer from northern Italy reports that wholesale prices have recently fluctuated between €1.20 and €1.40 per kilo, about €0.50 to €0.60 lower than during the same period in 2024. These prices do not allow for any profit, especially considering that a single cardboard box holding three kilos of product costs approximately €0.70.
Several factors have contributed to this challenging situation, including overlapping production from Sicily, Campania, and the Netherlands; high temperatures accelerating ripening; and weak consumer demand. The grower notes that Dutch competition is putting local producers at a disadvantage, as good-quality bell peppers are being delivered to northern Italian markets at €1.20 per kilo. The outlook is for another three weeks of low prices, followed by a production gap during which prices are expected to spike dramatically.
A growers' consortium from the Carmagnola area in Piedmont reports a positive outlook for the bell pepper season, primarily due to the absence of viral disease issues. High temperatures this year may prevent an overabundance of product. Carmagnola's production takes place in whitewashed greenhouses to provide shade and keep the plants in a cooler, more favorable environment, which also benefits the workers.
The predominant variety is the "elongated square," previously favored for its resistance to virosis. After an initial limited harvest, the season is expected to peak around July 15–20 and continue through November, sometimes extending into December until the first frost. This is partly due to staggered planting, which begins in late March and continues through early June.
Production is primarily intended for the Italian domestic market, with a portion exported to France via local traders and another to Switzerland via buyers at the Bergamo market. A large share is also sold at the Milan and Verona markets.
Spain: Bell pepper market faces oversupply and falling prices
The Region of Murcia, in Spain, is in the middle of the bell pepper season, currently experiencing a period of oversupply due to planting mismatches caused by abundant rainfall in late winter and early spring, combined with strong price pressure from excess Dutch production.
"Since June, bell pepper harvest volumes have been 20% higher than usual compared to other years," says the commercial director of one of the largest bell pepper auctions in Murcia. "Delays in the harvests due to persistent rainfall in March and April meant that, until May, volumes were lower and prices remained stable," he explains.
"From June onwards, the volumes that were lacking in the previous months arrived, and prices dropped to levels not seen in years, around €0.60 per kilo in the field, below profitability for farmers."
However, according to the commercial director, "Murcia having 20% more bell pepper than usual is not enough to destabilize European markets." The Netherlands has been supplying large volumes of bell peppers for weeks, currently at prices even lower than those of Spanish products.
Netherlands & Belgium: Weak prices despite early start and sunny weather
The local bell pepper season is now at its peak. The longest day has just passed, a heatwave recently occurred, and overall, the weather has been exceptionally sunny and summery for months. As a result, the transition from imports to local cultivation happened earlier this season.
However, due to the favorable weather conditions, pricing has been relatively weak. Yellow bell peppers, in particular, are underperforming compared to previous years, according to VBT auction data from Belgium, despite a reduction in acreage. The acreage of orange bell peppers is also lower this season. Green bell peppers, on the other hand, are currently faring somewhat better in terms of price, a Dutch trader observes.
A key topic in bell pepper cultivation this season is the shift to growing on organic substrates. Growers are searching for ways to avoid plant losses, an issue that has persisted for several years. Although a definitive cause has not yet been identified, there is a strong focus on Fusarium, the microbiome, and soil life. Thanks to the favorable weather since March, there appear to be fewer problems this season compared to previous years. Still, in many greenhouses, rows of dead plants can be seen, notably more often on rock wool than on other substrates. That said, there are still rock wool growers who report no issues. This makes the problem remain elusive.
In addition to plant loss, pest control, particularly aphids, continues to be a challenge. Some growers also anticipate that the exceptionally sunny weather may place such high demands on crops that not all will reach the end of the planned cultivation cycle unscathed. As a result, growers who still have healthy crops this autumn could benefit from potential market shortages.
Germany: Dutch supply leads as pepper market stabilizes
Deliveries from the Netherlands dominated the wholesale sector, with their presence increasing slightly. Dutch inflows were accompanied by consignments from Belgium and Turkey. Only small volumes arrived from Spain. Domestic produce was available only sporadically and was sold at relatively high prices. In contrast, Dutch and Belgian products saw price reductions.
This year's bell pepper harvest began in week 15, about two weeks earlier than last year. Harvesting typically runs from mid-April to mid-November. "Initially, the net yield was significantly higher than in the previous year, but the difference has since narrowed considerably," says one producer. There was a shortage in the bell pepper market during weeks 23–24, but currently there is ample supply. "These are entirely normal fluctuations, some of which are also offset by short-term promotions."
In the long term, red peppers will continue to dominate cultivation (65%), followed by yellow (20%) and orange peppers (15%). "We are seeing a slight decline in yellow peppers, while orange peppers are increasing slightly. However, we still don't see a market for green peppers in Germany." There is also growth potential for domestic mini and pointed peppers, which have so far played only a minor role.
France: Rising summer demand boosts sales
The French bell pepper season is currently underway, covering green, red, and square yellow varieties. At the start of the campaign, supermarket programs were slow to launch due to intense price competition, with imported peppers priced at €2 and French peppers costing nearly 25% more. With the arrival of summer heat, demand has been rising, especially for use in salads and barbecues.
North America: Tight supply drives prices up despite mixed demand
Demand is exceeding supply for field-grown bell peppers in North America following a challenging season in Georgia, marked by hot and wet weather during the growing period. Additional concerns have arisen after last week's heatwave, which is expected to affect future crops rather than the current harvest.
Production is also underway in California, though labor concerns are being reported. Workers are expressing fears over Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids at work sites.
While demand continues to outpace supply, it remains somewhat muted due to general consumer concerns, ranging from economic uncertainty to tariffs and potential conflicts.
Looking ahead, additional local field-grown bell pepper production is expected from South Carolina and Arkansas, complementing California's supply. Georgia also has products available, though the quality is only fair. Michigan, Ohio, New Jersey, and Delaware are a few weeks away from starting. New York and Canada will also enter the market this month, with Canada supplying greenhouse-grown peppers. The Netherlands is also exporting to the U.S. Overall, prices are rising.
South Africa: Prices up 66% as Cape Town faces severe shortage
The average domestic price for peppers, according to a market analyst, was R18.36 (€0.89) per kilogram last week. Green peppers, which make up approximately two-thirds of the segment, sold for R13 (€0.60), red peppers for R26, and yellow peppers for R28.60 (€1.38). The market analyst notes that pepper prices are currently up to 66% higher than last year, while volumes are about 9% lower.
The pepper market at the Gauteng municipal markets is definitely improving, according to a Limpopo pepper grower. It had been fairly volatile since March and was "under some pressure" two to three weeks ago, he says.
Meanwhile, at the Cape Town wholesale market, pepper availability has nearly disappeared, according to a market agent. This week, 5 kg cartons of peppers sold for R140 (€6.70) to R170 (€8.10). "There is a big shortage of peppers in the Cape. Compared to prices in Johannesburg, there is a gap," the agent says.
Limpopo peppers take two days by road to reach Cape Town, but current price levels and demand make it worthwhile. A major Namibian grower, whose crop typically supplies much of the Western Cape's peppers at this time of year, decided not to plant this season, leaving the field open to the remaining winter pepper suppliers.
Egypt: Strong demand and faster logistics boost trade
The Egyptian bell pepper season ended in June and was marked by strong demand from three main markets: the Gulf countries, Eastern Europe, and Western Europe. According to an Egyptian exporter, prices peaked at the beginning of the season, from November to January. Prices then declined as peppers from other origins entered the market. Egyptian peppers are gaining market share this season following the introduction of new logistics chains, such as RO-RO services, which have reduced transit times. The Gulf countries remain the primary market and focus for Egyptian exporters.
Morocco: High demand and climate pressure
The Moroccan bell pepper season concluded in June and saw strong demand from Germany and the UK. Prices reached exceptionally high levels between January and March, driven by production issues in Spain. Supply increased thanks to expanded pepper acreage in the Souss Massa region, though producers experienced lower yields due to adverse weather conditions. Red peppers made up 75% of the total production. The next season will start in September and is expected to remain influenced by climate conditions. One producer stated, "We believe that a 15% loss in volume is still acceptable."
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