After the impetus given to consumer demand by the Covid pandemic, the dynamics of trade are readjusting to a new normal.
Canned tomatoes (codes 200210..): slight readjustment
In contrast to the dynamics displayed by the paste sector, a readjustment occurred in 2022/2023 for the canned tomato category, which does not however call into question the overall progress recorded during and following the pandemic. Over the period under review, 1.91 million t of finished products were exported worldwide, a little less than over the same period in 2021/2022, but a little more than over the previous three years (1.89 million t). Trade remains at a significantly higher level (+9%) than before the pandemic.
The focus on the upstream and downstream components in this sector remains a fundamental feature of the business, with one national industry (Italy) dominating global supplies and two regions dominating consumption (Western EU and Non-EC Europe).
The slight drop in imports (-43,000 t, -2%) compared to the same period (June-May) of the previous year (2021/2022) brings overall activity back to a level very close to the average of the previous three years (2019/2020 to 2021/2022). The Italian sector accounted for 76% of world trade in 2022/2023, with Spain as the main challenger, credited with 7% of the year's total exports.
In a commercial context marked by a downturn in canned tomato purchases in the main consumer regions – with the exception of the Western EU, Spanish products were the only ones to improve (+3.6%) on their previous performance. Italian products seem to have stalled in 2022/2023 (-1.6%) despite remarkable progress on the European market. Other national industries suffered from the drop in purchases observed in other regions (non-EC Europe, North America, Far East, Middle East, etc.).
Tomato ketchup & sauces (codes 210320..): slight readjustment
After three years of significant growth driven by the effects of the Covid health crisis, the quantities of sauces and ketchup shipped worldwide fell slightly in 2022/2023 (-32,000 t, -2.5%). On this market for remanufactured tomato products, competition means that national industries other than those of the historically leading countries have a role to play in global processing. The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, the United Kingdom and Sweden accounted for almost 28% of the global trade in sauces and ketchup in 2022/2023.
The contraction, albeit slight, of the world market in 2022/2023 affected industry players in different ways. With over 325,000 t of finished products exported, the USA increased its foreign business by 7%, while foreign sales by competing Dutch and Italian operators fell back slightly. The 100,000 t of products shipped by the Spanish industry marked a notable increase (almost 7%) compared to the 2021/2022 marketing year. Other remarkable increases were recorded for sauce exports from Germany, Canada and the United Kingdom.
Summary presentation of tomato sauce and ketchup exports in 2022/2023, for shipment volumes over 1,500 metric tonnes (t).
Some complementary information
Overview of canned tomato exports in 2022/2023, for shipment volumes over 1,500 metric tonnes (t).
Evolution of national performances over past five years for tomato sauces & ketchup exports.
Distribution of global trade of canned tomatoes (codes 200210..) in 2022/2023
Distribution of global trade of tomato sauces & ketchup (codes 210320..) in 2022/2023
A detailed breakdown of the 2022/2023 performances for each of the countries mentioned is available on request from the TomatoNews Team.
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Monthly trade figures (exports, imports, pastes, canned tomatoes, quantities, prices) are published on the TomatoNews website for each of the most important countries in each category. Consult them regularly and be among the first to know!
Source: tradedatamonitor.com
