Price pressure and oversupply in the global bell pepper market

By: Trademagazin Date: 2025. 07. 16. 12:10

Bell peppers are facing a difficult market environment worldwide: oversupply, varying production conditions and depressed prices are the main features of this season. Prices in major European producing countries often fall short of break-even levels, while demand remains strong in some overseas regions.

Depressed prices across Europe

In Italy, wholesale prices for bell peppers have been hovering between €1.2 and €1.4/kg in recent weeks, around €0.5-0.6 lower than in the same period in 2024. This price level, when packaging and logistics costs are taken into account, no longer ensures a profit for producers.

There are several factors behind the market downturn: in addition to the Sicilian and Campania regions, the Netherlands has also contributed to the situation with significant oversupply. High temperatures are causing peppers to ripen faster, which speeds up the harvest and increases supply – all this in the face of weak consumer demand.

Similar developments are taking place in Spain: Dutch exports and domestic oversupply are keeping prices under pressure. In the Netherlands and Belgium, although the weather has been favourable, prices are particularly low for yellow bell peppers. The German market, however, seems to be stabilising thanks to Dutch shipments, although domestic products are still more expensive and available in limited quantities.

Regional outlook and exceptions

The Carmagnola producers’ consortium in Piedmont is cautiously optimistic about the season. Due to the high temperatures, production is carried out in whitewashed greenhouses, which partly mitigates the heat shock. Although the start of the season has yielded a poor harvest, the peak is expected in the second half of July, and the harvest could last until November.

The majority of the crop is sold on the Italian domestic market, but the consortium also exports to France and Switzerland.