Between 2016 and 2020, the United Kingdom has decreased its imports of Spanish tomatoes by 37.5%, from 144.72 million kilos in 2016 to 90.44 million in 2020. Meanwhile, the country has increased its imports of Moroccan tomatoes by 66.83%, from 49.84 million kilos in 2016 to 83.15 million kilos in 2020, as reflected by the data prepared by Hortoinfo, obtained through Comtrade. In 2020, the UK imported 24.76% less Spanish tomatoes and 22.6% more Moroccan tomatoes than in the previous year.
Top suppliers in 2020
In 2020, the United Kingdom imported a total of 376.66 million kilos of tomatoes worth € 545.91 million at an average price of € 1.45/kg. The Netherlands was the UK's largest tomato supplier with 149.34 million kilos (39.65% of the total) worth 220.19 million euro, and an average price of € 1.47/kg. It was followed by Spain with 90.44 million kilos (24.01% of the total) worth 119.52 million euro and an average price of € 1.32/kg.
Morocco is close to Spain. In 2020 it sold 83.15 million kilos of tomatoes to the United Kingdom, (22.08% of the total) for 104.32 million euro, and an average price of € 1.25/kg. Taking into account the evolution of recent years and the commercial agreements between the governments of the United Kingdom and Morocco, in 2021 Morocco could surpass Spain as a supplier of tomato to the UK.