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In 2017/2018, the total capacity of the 40 biggest tomato processing companies in the world amounted to more than 35.7 million metric tonnes (mT) of raw tomato, which is approximately 94% of the volume actually processed during the most recent season (37.8 million mT).
Companies ranked in decreasing order of daily processing capacity
On the basis of the declarations supplied by companies who were willing to respond to the Tomato News survey, the duration of the season varies significantly according to whether operators are active in Hungary (where the season is shorter, and lasts approximately 35 days) or in California (the longest season, with an average of 88 days). The average duration of the season around the world is approximately 66 days, for an average daily capacity of more than 540 000 mT (for comparison, slightly more than the volume that the Russian industry as a whole expects to process this year).
The USA has 12 companies that rank in the Top40 biggest tomato processing companies in 2017/2018 (virtually all of the Californian processors), with a declared accumulated annual capacity in excess of 14.2 million mT. Three Californian groups rank among the 10 biggest companies in the world for this sector: The Morning Star Company (n°1), Olam (n°7) and JG Boswell (n°8).
Eight Italian groups feature in the 2017/2018 ranking, declaring an accumulated total annual capacity of 3.35 million tonnes. Conserve Italia ranks in 13th place worldwide, Casalasco in 15th place, Mutti in 16th place.
The Chinese industry includes six processing groups among the Top40, the biggest of which are Cofco TunHe (n°2 worldwide), Chalkis (n°3), Guannong (n°10) and Haohan (n°12). The accumulated industrial processing capacity of these six companies amounts to a declared potential of close on 6.9 million mT of tomatoes.
Spain has the same number of companies in the top 40 as China. The Conesa group (n°6 worldwide) is in first place, with a processing capacity that makes it stand out ahead of the rest of the Spanish industry, in front of the groups Transa (n°17) and Tomates del Guadiana (n°21). Spanish companies that rank in the Top40 have a total processing capacity of close on 3.29 million mT.
Ranking fourth in the world's list of biggest companies is the Portuguese operator Sugal, with a declared annual processing capacity of 2.47 million mT. Close behind, the Japanese group Kagome Global declares a capacity of 2.38 million mT.
Two Turkish companies (TAT Konserve and Assan Foods) also make the global Top40, with an annual accumulated processing capacity estimated at 770 000 mT.
Source: WPTC, Tomato News
