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Top Import Markets for Tomatoes

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Top Import Markets for Tomatoes

Tomatoes are one of the most widely consumed vegetables worldwide, and the global trade of this versatile fruit is booming. In this article, we will explore the world’s best import markets for tomatoes, backed by key statistics and data from the IndexBox market intelligence platform.

1. Germany – Leading the Way

Germany takes the top spot as the world’s largest importer of tomatoes with an import value of $1.6 billion in 2022. Known for its strong market demand for high-quality agricultural products, Germany relies heavily on imports to meet its domestic tomato consumption. The country sources tomatoes from various suppliers, including neighboring European countries and non-European nations.

2. United States – A Growing Market

The United States is a close contender, ranking second in terms of tomato imports. In 2022, the country imported tomatoes worth $1.4 billion. This growing market is fueled by the increasing demand for tomatoes in various forms, such as fresh produce, sauces, and processed products. Mexico, Canada, and the Netherlands are among the major tomato suppliers to the United States.

3. France – A Culinary Giant

With a tomato import value of $957.0 million in 2022, France secures the third position on our list. Renowned for its gastronomy and culinary excellence, France relies heavily on imported tomatoes to cater to its diverse culinary needs. Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands are notable tomato suppliers to the French market.

4. United Kingdom – Blooming Tomato Trade

The United Kingdom ranks fourth in terms of tomato imports, with an import value of $688.7 million in 2022. Despite being a major producer of tomatoes, the UK still relies on imports to meet its domestic demand. The country sources tomatoes from various suppliers, including the Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, and Morocco.

5. Netherlands – A Hub for Tomato Trade

As one of the leading tomato producers and exporters, the Netherlands is also a significant importer. In 2022, the country imported tomatoes worth $429.0 million. The Dutch tomato market is characterized by its efficiency, technological advancements, and strong export industry. Belgium, Spain, and Germany are among the major tomato suppliers to the Netherlands.

6. Russia – Tomato Imports on the Rise

Russia has shown a significant increase in its tomato imports in recent years, ranking sixth with an import value of $347.3 million in 2022. The country’s growing middle class and changing dietary habits contribute to the rising demand for imported tomatoes. Major tomato suppliers to Russia include Turkey, Belarus, Morocco, and the Netherlands.

7. Poland – Meeting Domestic Demand

Poland holds the seventh position on our list, with a tomato import value of $333.4 million in 2022. As a major agricultural country, Poland relies on imports to supplement its domestic tomato production and meet the growing demand. Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands are key suppliers of tomatoes to Poland.

8. Canada – Reliant on Tomato Imports

Canada is a significant importer of tomatoes, ranking eighth with an import value of $327.2 million in 2022. Despite being a large producer of greenhouse tomatoes, Canada’s domestic production alone is unable to meet the country’s consumption needs. The United States, Mexico, and the Netherlands are major tomato suppliers to the Canadian market.

9. Spain – Balancing Domestic Production and Imports

Spain, known for its extensive tomato cultivation, imports a substantial volume of tomatoes to complement its domestic production. The country’s tomato imports in 2022 were valued at $215.7 million, placing it in the ninth position. Morocco, the Netherlands, and France are significant tomato suppliers to Spain.

10. Italy – A Tomato Lover’s Paradise

Italy, famous for its rich culinary heritage, completes our list with a tomato import value of $200.6 million in 2022. Despite being a major tomato producer, Italy supplements its domestic supply with imports to cater to the varying demands of Italian cuisine. Spain, the Netherlands, and Morocco are key suppliers of tomatoes to Italy.

These top import markets for tomatoes highlight the global demand for this versatile fruit. As consumer preferences continue to evolve and culinary cultures thrive, the import of tomatoes plays a vital role in meeting diverse demands. The data and statistics provided in this article have been sourced from the IndexBox market intelligence platform, a valuable resource for analyzing international trade trends.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform 

tomatoes

IS A TOMATO A FRUIT OR VEGETABLE? BOTANISTS AND TRADERS DISAGREE.

Adults sometimes stop asking questions like “Is a tomato a fruit or a vegetable?” Recently, my middle school-aged daughter quizzed us over dinner on this. She knew the answer because one of her classmates had recently presented on the legal answer in debate class. I was bemused that it came down to a Supreme Court decision emanating from a customs dispute. Here’s the answer, and some trade trivia on which countries export the most tomatoes. Some of the up and comers are quite intriguing.

Nix v. Hedden

In a decision rendered on May 10, 1893, the Supreme Court handed down its answer to whether the tomato is a fruit or a vegetable. Under the Tariff Act of March 3, 1883, vegetables were assessed a tariff of 10 percent ad valorem. Fruits could be imported duty-free. In Nix v. Hedden, Mr. John Nix brought a case against Edward Hedden, a customs officer at the port of New York, seeking to recover duties he paid under protest on tomatoes imported from the West Indies. Nix had to prove the tomato should be considered a fruit for the purpose of determining the import duty.

In Commerce and Common Parlance

Nix’s counsel read from Webster’s Dictionary, Worcester’s Dictionary, and the Imperial Dictionary, all of which defined “fruit” as the seed of plants or that part of plants containing the seed, reinforcing the textbook categorization of the tomato as a fruit. (To the botanist or natural historian, that’s the final word. The tomato is a fruit of the vine.)

But then the court heard from longtime sellers of fruits and vegetables. The witnesses suggested, and the court agreed, that in the common language of consumers and sellers, tomatoes are considered more like other vegetables than fruits. As Justice Gray put it in his summary, “vegetables…are usually served at dinner in, with, or after the soup, fish, or meat, which constitute the principal part of the repast, and not, like fruits, generally as dessert.” To this day, tomatoes are classified as a vegetable in Chapter 7 of the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.

We Grow a Lot More Tomatoes Today

The United States is one of the world’s leading producers of tomatoes, second only to China. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, fresh and processed tomatoes generate more than $2 billion in annual U.S. farm cash receipts.

Every U.S. state produces fresh market tomatoes. About twenty produce at a commercial scale. California and Florida devote 30-40,000 acres each to fresh market tomato production – somewhere between two-thirds and three-fourths of production – followed by Virginia, Georgia, Ohio, Tennessee, North Carolina, New Jersey, and Michigan.

Trade Allows Us to Eat Tomatoes All Year

We grow a lot of tomatoes, but we also eat a lot of tomatoes. Commercial sales of fresh tomatoes in the United States are strongest in the spring when they aren’t competing with availability of local tomatoes. But we can enjoy fresh-market tomatoes all year-round because of imports. Mexico tends to fill in the seasonal supply gap for consumers in western U.S. states, and to a lesser degree in the east since Florida produces a winter crop. U.S. greenhouse and hydroponic tomatoes also make up some the difference, but generally, about one-third of the fresh tomatoes we consume are imported. Mexico also accounts for more than 70 percent of the U.S. import market for greenhouse tomatoes. Canada supplies another 27 percent.

Chapter 7 of the Tariff Schedule Again

Mexican producers are competitive with California and Florida producers in the U.S. market. Worried about imports from Mexico eating into their sales, U.S. tomato producers petitioned the U.S. Department of Commerce to investigate whether Mexican producers were selling fresh-market tomatoes in the U.S. market below fair market value, undercutting the U.S. price. The investigation was suspended when Mexico entered into a negotiated agreement in 1996 that required the majority of fresh-market tomatoes imported from Mexico to adhere to an agreed minimum price.

In subsequent and more recent revisions to that agreement, the types of tomatoes covered under the agreement expanded, the tomato season was split into two periods to cover the summer and winter seasons —each with a separate minimum price, and the floor price was increased. The period between July 1 and October 22 targets competition between California and Baja, Mexico. From October 23 to June 30, Mexican fresh-market tomatoes must meet a higher minimum price to address competition between Florida and Sinaloa, Mexico. While we don’t impose duties on imports from our free trade agreement partners, the general duty for imports from other countries also varies depending on when in the growing season the tomatoes are imported. Either way, it’s the American consumer that foots the bill of the higher prices.

Outside North America, Azerbaijan is a Fast Grower

American fresh-tomato growers typically export 6 to 7 percent of their supply. About three-fourths of those exports go to Canada. U.S. exports to Mexico are a distant second. While American, Mexican — and to a lesser extent – Canadian, growers battle for North American market share, these fifteen countries globally exported the highest values of tomatoes during 2016, accounting for over 92 percent of global trade in tomatoes.

What might surprise you the most is the last four on this list. At number 13, Azerbaijan’s exports have grown 380 percent since 2012. China’s exports grew over that period by 119 percent, Belarus by 55.5 percent, and India grew its tomato exports by 42 percent.

World Tomato Exports in 2016

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Andrea Durkin is the Editor-in-Chief of TradeVistas and Founder of Sparkplug, LLC. Ms. Durkin previously served as a U.S. Government trade negotiator and has proudly taught international trade policy and negotiations for the last fifteen years as an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University’s Master of Science in Foreign Service program.

This article originally appeared on TradeVistas.org. Republished with permission.

tomato

Tomato Market in the Middle East Posted Solid Gains Over the Last Decade

IndexBox has just published a new report: ‘Middle East – Tomatoes – Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights’. Here is a summary of the report’s key findings.

The Middle Eastern tomato market declined to $15.9B in 2019, which is down by -13.6% against the previous year. This figure reflects the total revenues of producers and importers (excluding logistics costs, retail marketing costs, and retailers’ margins, which will be included in the final consumer price). In general, consumption saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2017 with an increase of 21% year-to-year. As a result, consumption attained a peak level of $19.8B. From 2018 to 2019, the growth of the market failed to regain momentum.

Consumption by Country

The countries with the highest volumes of tomato consumption in 2019 were Turkey (12M tonnes), Iran (6.7M tonnes), and the Syrian Arab Republic (651K tonnes), together accounting for 86% of total consumption. These countries were followed by Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Israel, which together accounted for a further 6.6%.

From 2013 to 2019, the biggest increases were in Jordan, while tomato consumption for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, Turkey ($7.8B), Iran ($5.3B) and Israel ($501M) constituted the countries with the highest levels of market value in 2019, with a combined 86% share of the total market. Jordan, the Syrian Arab Republic, and Saudi Arabia lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 5.1%.

The countries with the highest levels of tomato per capita consumption in 2019 were Turkey (143 kg per person), Iran (80 kg per person), and Jordan (59 kg per person).

From 2013 to 2019, the biggest increases were in Jordan, while tomato per capita consumption for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Production in the Middle East

Tomato production was estimated at 23M tonnes in 2019, remaining stable against the year before. In general, production continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2017 when the production volume increased by 2.3% against the previous year. Over the period under review, production reached the peak volume in 2019. The generally positive trend in terms output was largely conditioned by a relatively flat trend pattern of the harvested area and a pronounced increase in yield figures.

Production by Country

The countries with the highest volumes of tomato production in 2019 were Turkey (12M tonnes), Iran (6.7M tonnes), and Jordan (864K tonnes), together accounting for 89% of total production. These countries were followed by the Syrian Arab Republic and Israel, which together accounted for a further 4.3%.

From 2013 to 2019, the most notable rate of growth in terms of tomato production, amongst the key producing countries, was attained by the Syrian Arab Republic, while tomato production for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Harvested Area in the Middle East

In 2019, the total area harvested in terms of tomatoes production in the Middle East reduced slightly to 413K ha, stabilizing at the previous year’s figure. Over the period under review, the harvested area dedicated to tomato production attained the maximum at 465K ha in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2019, the harvested area stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Yield in the Middle East

The average tomato yield rose to 54 tonnes per ha in 2019, growing by 2% against 2018. The yield figure increased at an average annual rate of +2.6% from 2013 to 2019; the trend pattern remained relatively stable, with only minor fluctuations in certain years. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2014 when the yield increased by 6.3% year-to-year. Over the period under review, the tomato yield hit record highs in 2019 and is expected to retain growth in years to come.

Exports in the Middle East

In 2019, overseas shipments of tomatoes increased by 19% to 883K tonnes, rising for the second year in a row after four years of decline. Over the period under review, exports, however, continue to indicate a deep downturn. Over the period under review, exports reached a maximum of 1.3M tonnes in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2019, exports remained at a lower figure. In value terms, tomato exports shrank to $482M (IndexBox estimates) in 2019.

Exports by Country

Turkey was the key exporting country with an export of about 535K tonnes, which reached 61% of total exports. It was distantly followed by Jordan (240K tonnes), making up a 27% share of total exports. The following exporters – Oman (30K tonnes), Iran (28K tonnes), and the Syrian Arab Republic (26K tonnes) – each finished at a 9.6% share of total exports.

From 2013 to 2019, the average annual rates of growth with regard to tomato exports from Turkey stood at +1.7%. At the same time, Iran (+23.7%) and Oman (+2.3%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Iran emerged as the fastest-growing exporter exported in the Middle East, with a CAGR of +23.7% from 2013-2019. By contrast, Jordan (-14.4%) and the Syrian Arab Republic (-22.8%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. Turkey (+5.9 p.p.) and Iran (+2.3 p.p.) significantly strengthened its position in terms of the total exports, while the Syrian Arab Republic and Jordan saw its share reduced by -10.9% and -42.1% from 2013 to 2019, respectively. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, Turkey ($303M) remains the largest tomato supplier in the Middle East, comprising 63% of total exports. The second position in the ranking was occupied by Jordan ($120M), with a 25% share of total exports. It was followed by Iran, with a 5.2% share.

In Turkey, tomato exports shrank by an average annual rate of -4.2% over the period from 2013-2019. The remaining exporting countries recorded the following average annual rates of export growth: Jordan (-14.9% per year) and Iran (+45.8% per year).

Export Prices by Country

The tomato export price in the Middle East stood at $546 per tonne in 2019, which is down by -28.1% against the previous year. In general, the export price recorded a pronounced decrease. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2017 an increase of 23% year-to-year. As a result, the export price reached a peak level of $791 per tonne. From 2018 to 2019, the growth in terms of the export prices remained at a somewhat lower figure.

Prices varied noticeably by the country of origin; the country with the highest price was Iran ($874 per tonne), while Oman ($95 per tonne) was amongst the lowest.

From 2013 to 2019, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Iran, while the other leaders experienced mixed trends in the export price figures.

Source: IndexBox AI Platform

ketchup

Spain’s Production of Tomato Ketchup and Sauces Grew for the Tenth Consecutive Year, Driven by Expanding Exports

IndexBox has just published a new report: ‘Spain – Tomato Ketchup And Tomato Sauces – Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends And Insights’. Here is a summary of the report’s key findings.

The revenue of the tomato ketchup market in Spain amounted to $280M in 2018, shrinking by -5.1% against the previous year. This figure reflects the total revenues of producers and importers (excluding logistics costs, retail marketing costs, and retailers’ margins, which will be included in the final consumer price). In general, tomato ketchup consumption, however, continues to indicate a measured setback. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2009 with an increase of 7.2% y-o-y. Tomato ketchup consumption peaked at $432M in 2011; however, from 2012 to 2018, consumption remained at a lower figure.

Market Forecast 2019-2025 in Spain

Driven by increasing demand for tomato ketchup in Spain, the market is expected to continue an upward consumption trend over the next seven years. Market performance is forecast to retain its current trend pattern, expanding with an anticipated CAGR of +0.4% for the seven-year period from 2018 to 2025, which is projected to bring the market volume to 279K tonnes by the end of 2025.

Production in Spain

In 2018, the production of tomato ketchup and tomato sauces in Spain stood at 334K tonnes, going up by 4.6% against the previous year. Overall, tomato ketchup production continues to indicate mild growth. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2016 when production volume increased by 6.9% year-to-year. Over the period under review, tomato ketchup production reached its maximum volume in 2018 and is expected to retain its growth in the immediate term.

In value terms, tomato ketchup production totaled $304M in 2018 estimated in export prices. In general, tomato ketchup production continues to indicate a drastic downturn. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2011 when production volume increased by 6.2% year-to-year. In that year, tomato ketchup production attained its peak level of $492M. From 2012 to 2018, tomato ketchup production growth remained at a lower figure.

 

Exports from Spain

In 2018, the tomato ketchup exports from Spain amounted to 88K tonnes, going up by 20% against the previous year. Overall, the total exports indicated a temperate expansion from 2008 to 2018: its volume increased at an average annual rate of +2.0% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2018 figures, tomato ketchup exports increased by +40.4% against 2016 indices. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2013 when exports increased by 39% against the previous year. Over the period under review, tomato ketchup exports attained their peak figure in 2018 and are expected to retain its growth in the near future.

In value terms, tomato ketchup exports stood at $123M (IndexBox estimates) in 2018. In general, the total exports indicated a modest increase from 2008 to 2018: its value increased at an average annual rate of +2.0% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2018 figures, tomato ketchup exports increased by +80.2% against 2016 indices. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2018 when exports increased by 67% year-to-year. In that year, tomato ketchup exports attained their peak and are likely to continue its growth in the immediate term.

Exports by Country

France (53K tonnes) was the main destination for tomato ketchup exports from Spain, with a 60% share of total exports. Moreover, tomato ketchup exports to France exceeded the volume sent to the second major destination, the UK (6.6K tonnes), eightfold. The Netherlands (5.6K tonnes) ranked third in terms of total exports with a 6.4% share.

From 2008 to 2018, the average annual rate of growth in terms of volume to France amounted to +1.5%. Exports to the other major destinations recorded the following average annual rates of exports growth: the UK (+7.9% per year) and the Netherlands (+7.1% per year).

In value terms, France ($81M) remains the key foreign market for tomato ketchup exports from Spain, comprising 66% of total tomato ketchup exports. The second position in the ranking was occupied by Portugal ($6.1M), with a 5% share of total exports. It was followed by the Netherlands, with a 4.9% share.

From 2008 to 2018, the average annual growth rate of value to France amounted to +1.4%. Exports to the other major destinations recorded the following average annual rates of exports growth: Portugal (+0.0% per year) and the Netherlands (+4.6% per year).

Export Prices by Country

The average tomato ketchup export price stood at $1,398 per tonne in 2018, rising by 39% against the previous year. Overall, the tomato ketchup export price, however, continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2018 when the average export price increased by 39% year-to-year. The export price peaked at $1,518 per tonne in 2008; however, from 2009 to 2018, export prices stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Prices varied noticeably by the country of destination; the country with the highest price was France ($1,543 per tonne), while the average price for exports to the UK ($776 per tonne) was amongst the lowest.

From 2008 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was recorded for supplies to France, while the prices for the other major destinations experienced a decline.

Imports into Spain

In 2018, the imports of tomato ketchup and tomato sauces into Spain amounted to 24K tonnes, lowering by -3.8% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the total imports indicated a pronounced increase from 2008 to 2018: its volume increased at an average annual rate of +3.1% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2018 figures, tomato ketchup imports decreased by -14.6% against 2015 indices. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2015 with an increase of 68% y-o-y. Over the period under review, tomato ketchup imports attained their maximum at 29K tonnes in 2010; however, from 2011 to 2018, imports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

In value terms, tomato ketchup imports stood at $32M (IndexBox estimates) in 2018. Over the period under review, tomato ketchup imports, however, continue to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2015 when imports increased by 26% y-o-y. Imports peaked at $36M in 2010; however, from 2011 to 2018, imports failed to regain their momentum.

Imports by Country

The Netherlands (7.6K tonnes), Poland (4.5K tonnes) and the UK (3.8K tonnes) were the main suppliers of tomato ketchup imports to Spain, with a combined 65% share of total imports.

From 2008 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of imports, amongst the main suppliers, was attained by the UK, while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, the Netherlands ($9.9M), Poland ($6.8M) and the UK ($4.4M) appeared to be the largest tomato ketchup suppliers to Spain, together accounting for 66% of total imports.

In terms of the main suppliers, Poland recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to imports, over the last decade, while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Import Prices by Country

In 2018, the average tomato ketchup import price amounted to $1,307 per tonne, growing by 5.9% against the previous year. Overall, the tomato ketchup import price, however, continues to indicate a moderate reduction. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2011 an increase of 23% y-o-y. Over the period under review, the average import prices for tomato ketchup and tomato sauces attained their maximum at $1,701 per tonne in 2008; however, from 2009 to 2018, import prices remained at a lower figure.

Average prices varied somewhat amongst the major supplying countries. In 2018, the highest prices were recorded for prices from Germany ($1,629 per tonne) and Poland ($1,521 per tonne), while the price for Portugal ($1,087 per tonne) and the UK ($1,148 per tonne) were amongst the lowest.

From 2008 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Germany, while the prices for the other major suppliers experienced a decline.

Source: IndexBox AI Platform

tomato

Global Tomato Market 2019 – Robust Consumption Growth in China and India Drives the Global Market

IndexBox has just published a new report: ‘World – Tomatoes – Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights’. Here is a summary of the report’s key findings.

The global tomato market revenue amounted to $190.4B in 2018, rising by 6.5% against the previous year. This figure reflects the total revenues of producers and importers (excluding logistics costs, retail marketing costs, and retailers’ margins, which will be included in the final consumer price). The market value increased at an average annual rate of +3.1% from 2007 to 2018; the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded in certain years. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2011, when the market value increased by 9.6% y-o-y. Over the period under review, the global tomato market reached its peak figure level at $196.1B in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2018, consumption remained at a lower figure.

Production 2007-2018

In 2018, the amount of tomatoes produced worldwide stood at 188M tonnes, rising by 3.5% against the previous year. The total output volume increased at an average annual rate of +2.9% from 2007 to 2018; the trend pattern remained consistent, with somewhat noticeable fluctuations being observed in certain years. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2009, with an increase of 9.8% against the previous year. Global tomato production peaked in 2018, and is likely to see steady growth in the immediate term. The general positive trend in terms of tomato output was largely conditioned by moderate growth of the harvested area and a mild increase in yield figures.

Exports 2007-2018

Global exports stood at 7.3M tonnes in 2018, therefore, remained relatively stable against the previous year. The total export volume increased at an average annual rate of +1.6% from 2007 to 2018; the trend pattern remained consistent, with only minor fluctuations in certain years. In value terms, tomato exports totaled $9.7B (IndexBox estimates) in 2018.

Exports by Country

In 2018, Mexico (1.8M tonnes), distantly followed by the Netherlands (1.1M tonnes), Spain (797K tonnes), Morocco (550K tonnes) and Turkey (364K tonnes) represented the largest exporters of tomatoes, together constituting 63% of total exports. France (287K tonnes), Belgium (220K tonnes), the U.S. (216K tonnes), Canada (191K tonnes), Azerbaijan (172K tonnes), Lithuania (157K tonnes) and China (143K tonnes) followed a long way behind the leaders.

From 2007 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of exports, amongst the main exporting countries, was attained by Azerbaijan, while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, Mexico ($2.3B), the Netherlands ($1.9B) and Spain ($1.3B) constituted the countries with the highest levels of exports in 2018, together comprising 57% of global exports. Morocco, Canada, France, Turkey, the U.S., Belgium, Lithuania, Azerbaijan and China lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 32%.

Export Prices by Country

The average tomato export price stood at $1,326 per tonne in 2018, jumping by 4.7% against the previous year. Over the last eleven year period, it increased at an average annual rate of +1.3%. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2010, when the average export price increased by 18% y-o-y. Over the period under review, the average export prices for tomatoes attained their maximum in 2018, and is expected to retain its growth in the immediate term.

There were significant differences in the average export prices amongst the major exporting countries. In 2018, the country with the highest export price was Canada ($2,159 per tonne), while Turkey ($894 per tonne) was amongst the lowest.

From 2007 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of export prices was attained by Azerbaijan, while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Imports 2007-2018

In 2018, the amount of tomatoes imported worldwide stood at 6.8M tonnes, growing by 4.7% against the previous year. The total import volume increased at an average annual rate of +1.5% from 2007 to 2018; the trend pattern remained consistent, with only minor fluctuations being recorded over the period under review. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2009, with an increase of 9.7% against the previous year. Over the period under review, global tomato imports reached their maximum at 7.2M tonnes in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2018, imports remained at a lower figure. In value terms, tomato imports amounted to $9B (IndexBox estimates) in 2018. The total import value increased at an average annual rate of +2.1% over the period from 2007 to 2018; the trend pattern remained consistent, with only minor fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2010, when imports increased by 12% against the previous year. Over the period under review, global tomato imports reached their maximum at $9.3B in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2018, imports remained at a lower figure.

Imports by Country

The U.S. represented the key importer of tomatoes in the world, with the volume of imports finishing at 1.9M tonnes, which was approx. 27% of total imports in 2018. It was distantly followed by Germany (729K tonnes), Russia (578K tonnes), France (493K tonnes) and the UK (418K tonnes), together mixing up a 33% share of total imports. The Netherlands (230K tonnes), Canada (228K tonnes), Pakistan (182K tonnes), Poland (153K tonnes), Spain (147K tonnes) and Italy (129K tonnes) took a minor share of total imports.

From 2007 to 2018, average annual rates of growth with regard to tomato imports into the U.S. stood at +5.1%. At the same time, Pakistan (+27.5%), Poland (+6.1%), Italy (+3.9%), the Netherlands (+1.6%) and Canada (+1.3%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Pakistan emerged as the fastest growing importer in the world, with a CAGR of +27.5% from 2007-2018. Germany, Russia, France, the UK and Spain experienced a relatively flat trend pattern. From 2007 to 2018, the share of the U.S. and Pakistan increased by +12% and +2.5% percentage points, while the shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, the U.S. ($2.5B), Germany ($1.5B) and the UK ($700M) appeared to be the countries with the highest levels of imports in 2018, together comprising 52% of global imports. These countries were followed by France, Russia, Canada, the Netherlands, Poland, Italy, Spain and Pakistan, which together accounted for a further 29%.

Import Prices by Country

The average tomato import price stood at $1,331 per tonne in 2018, shrinking by -3.8% against the previous year. In general, the tomato import price, however, continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. Import prices varied noticeably by the country of destination; the country with the highest import price was Germany ($2,017 per tonne), while Pakistan ($520 per tonne) was amongst the lowest.

From 2007 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of import prices was attained by Spain, while the other global leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox AI Platform