We complain about fuel, but the tomato crisis has also arrived, prices exceed 400 lekë/kg!

Tomatoes are one of the most popular products in our country, widely cultivated in greenhouses and family gardens and commonly used in household recipes. However, in recent days their price in retail markets has reached record levels of 350–440 lek per kilogram for regular tomatoes and 700–800 lek per kilogram for cherry tomatoes figures previously unheard of for consumers.

Although this vegetable is not in its peak season, the second greenhouse cycle usually brings it to market at reasonable prices in early April. Even in January, locally grown tomatoes cost 170 lek/kg, while imported ones were 270–300 lek/kg. Now, local tomatoes have reached the same price level as imports.

A combination of factors—including reduced planting areas, damage caused by floods earlier this year, and strong export demand—is keeping prices at very high levels.

Data from the market and the Farmers’ Portal show that yesterday wholesale prices at farms ranged from 170 to 270 lek per kilogram, while at retail stalls tomatoes have effectively become a “don’t touch” product due to their high cost.

The latest monitoring data from wholesale markets in the country indicate a sharp increase, with prices exceeding 250 lek/kg in major regions like Tirana, while in Korçë wholesale prices reach up to 300 lek/kg.

High prices at collection points are translating into even heavier costs for consumers in retail markets, where prices now start at around 350 lek/kg, while specific varieties like cherry tomatoes reach record highs of up to 800 lek/kg.

This upward trend is also confirmed by historical data from INSTAT, where comparisons of February prices over the years show that 2026 marks the highest average price level in the past four years, surpassing even the peak recorded in 2023.

Although in cities like Tirana and Fier wholesale prices start from 170 to 230 lek/kg for lower-quality categories, the immediate reflection in neighborhood shops and small markets is making tomatoes a very expensive item, at a time when their consumption is essential in household and restaurant recipes.

Last year, during the same period, tomatoes were sold at farms for 80–100 lek/kg and around 150 lek/kg in retail markets. This year, prices have more than doubled.

High tomato prices have created a broader pricing crisis across the Mediterranean. Climate change has caused unstable temperatures, and February floods damaged hundreds of thousands of hectares of greenhouses in Italy, Spain, Turkey, and Albania—currently the main producers of this product in Europe.

Export-oriented greenhouses in Fier, Lushnjë, and Berat were flooded four times between November 2025 and February 2026, resulting in major losses of production and new seedlings.

Excess water in greenhouses caused rot, leading to total loss of early plantings, while high humidity after the floods is favoring the spread of diseases such as blight. This requires additional investment in expensive pesticides, increasing the cost per kilogram at the farm level, said Mariglen Ziu, an experienced greenhouse vegetable farmer in Dimal.

Other factors driving price increases include high agricultural input costs, with fertilizers and pesticides seeing significant price rises. In addition, the shortage of labor in rural areas has forced farmers to increase daily wages, a cost that is directly passed on to the final product price.

Many farmers have abandoned production due to flood-related losses. The remaining output is being directed toward exports, where strong demand from regional and European Union markets means less supply is available for the domestic market, making it more expensive.

Additionally, the Albanian government does not provide subsidies to farmers to offset costs, unlike other Mediterranean countries that offer more protective measures and financial support for agriculture.

While other Mediterranean countries face similar climate challenges, they have more advanced drainage and protection systems. Flooding and other climate factors in Albania have a stronger impact due to outdated drainage infrastructure, making domestic production more vulnerable and prices more unstable compared to neighboring countries.

“KORÇA BOOM”