From feeding a global obsession with ketchup to underpinning massive export economies, the world's tomato industry is a titan, producing a staggering 186.8 million metric tons last year alone to meet our insatiable demand.
Key Takeaways
- Global tomato production in 2022 totaled 186.821 million metric tons, an increase of 1.2% from 2021.
- China produced 65.517 million metric tons of tomatoes in 2022, accounting for 35.1% of global output.
- India ranked second with 21.255 million metric tons of tomato production in 2022.
- World tomato consumption per capita averaged 25.5 kg in 2022.
- In the EU, annual tomato consumption reached 38 kg per person in 2022.
- US per capita fresh tomato consumption was 8.5 kg in 2022.
- Global tomato exports in 2022 valued at $10.2 billion.
- Netherlands exported 1.1 million tons of tomatoes worth $1.8 billion in 2022.
- Spain was the top fresh tomato exporter with 2.5 million tons in 2022.
- World tomato processing output 40 million tons in 2022.
- Italy processed 5.5 million tons into paste and sauce in 2022.
- US processing tomato crop 12 million tons in 2022 for canning.
- Global tomato economic value $100 billion at farmgate in 2022.
- US tomato industry contributed $6.5 billion to GDP in 2022.
- California tomato sector employed 50,000 workers in 2022.
Global tomato production increased slightly in 2022, led by China and India's massive harvests.
Consumption
- World tomato consumption per capita averaged 25.5 kg in 2022.
- In the EU, annual tomato consumption reached 38 kg per person in 2022.
- US per capita fresh tomato consumption was 8.5 kg in 2022.
- China consumed 65 million metric tons of tomatoes in 2022, mostly processed.
- India’s per capita tomato consumption was 15 kg in 2022.
- Brazil consumed 4.5 million tons domestically in 2022.
- Nigeria's per capita consumption hit 28 kg in 2022.
- Global processed tomato consumption grew 3% to 45 million tons in 2022.
- Italy per capita tomato consumption was 50 kg, highest in EU in 2022.
- Mexico consumed 12 kg per capita fresh tomatoes in 2022.
- Turkey's domestic consumption was 13 million tons in 2022.
- Russia imported tomatoes consumed 1.8 million tons in 2022.
- Germany's annual tomato intake was 15 kg per person in 2022.
- Japan consumed 1.9 million tons, per capita 15 kg in 2022.
- UK fresh tomato consumption rose to 4.5 kg per capita in 2022.
- Egypt consumed nearly all 6 million tons produced locally in 2022.
- Spain's per capita consumption was 42 kg in 2022.
- Global ketchup consumption linked to 2.5 million tons tomatoes in 2022.
- France tomato sauce consumption used 1.2 million tons equivalent in 2022.
- Canada per capita fresh tomato consumption 9 kg in 2022.
- South Korea imported tomatoes for 10 kg per capita consumption in 2022.
- Australia consumed 12 kg per capita tomatoes in 2022.
- Poland's consumption grew to 8 kg per capita in 2022.
- Processed tomato products accounted for 60% of US tomato use in 2022.
- Netherlands per capita 25 kg tomato consumption in 2022.
- Global tomato juice consumption 0.8 million tons in 2022.
- Portugal consumed 35 kg per capita in 2022.
- Iran domestic consumption 6.5 million tons in 2022.
Consumption Interpretation
From Italy's pizzas to America's ketchup bottles, the world's love affair with the tomato is a deliciously messy business where national character is measured in sauce, salad, and sheer tonnage.
Economic Value
- Global tomato economic value $100 billion at farmgate in 2022.
- US tomato industry contributed $6.5 billion to GDP in 2022.
- California tomato sector employed 50,000 workers in 2022.
- Global processing tomato market revenue $25 billion in 2022.
- Italy's tomato industry exports generated €2.5 billion in 2022.
- Fresh tomato retail value worldwide $55 billion in 2022.
- Mexico tomato exports to US valued $2.8 billion in 2022.
- Spain's Almeria tomato production worth €1.5 billion in 2022.
- Turkey tomato industry supported 200,000 jobs in 2022.
- Global organic tomato market $5 billion in 2022.
- US processing tomato value $1.5 billion farmgate in 2022.
- Netherlands tomato greenhouse sector revenue €1.2 billion.
- Brazilian tomato market size $3 billion in 2022.
- EU tomato subsidies totaled €300 million in 2022.
- China's tomato processing industry $15 billion revenue.
- Global ketchup market $20 billion driven by tomatoes in 2022.
- Morocco tomato exports economic impact $800 million in 2022.
- India tomato farmgate value ₹150 billion in 2022.
- Florida fresh tomato value $700 million in 2022.
- Global tomato seed market $1.2 billion in 2022.
- Italy processing factories profit margin 12% average 2022.
- US tomato retail prices averaged $2.50/lb in 2022.
- Greenhouse tomato production ROI 25% in Netherlands 2022.
- Global losses due to tomato waste $15 billion annually 2022.
- Egypt tomato sector GDP contribution 2% in 2022.
- Spain tomato employment 100,000 jobs in 2022.
- Processed tomato products wholesale $30 billion global 2022.
Economic Value Interpretation
The humble tomato isn't just a fruit salad staple but a $100 billion global behemoth where California's fields, Italy's factories, and your kitchen's ketchup bottle are all links in a surprisingly juicy, high-stakes economic chain.
Processing
- World tomato processing output 40 million tons in 2022.
- Italy processed 5.5 million tons into paste and sauce in 2022.
- US processing tomato crop 12 million tons in 2022 for canning.
- California processed 95% of its tomatoes into products in 2022.
- Global canned tomato production 15 million tons equivalent in 2022.
- China processed 25 million tons into juice and paste in 2022.
- Spain's processing industry handled 3.2 million tons in 2022.
- Turkey processed 4 million tons for export paste in 2022.
- Portugal's processing output 800,000 tons concentrated paste in 2022.
- Greece processed 500,000 tons into pelati and diced in 2022.
- Brazil's processing sector used 2.5 million tons in 2022.
- Global tomato paste production 8 million tons (36-38 Brix) in 2022.
- Italy's paste factories processed at 80% capacity in 2022.
- US canned tomato sauce production 2 million tons in 2022.
- Processing varieties like Roma accounted for 70% global processed tomatoes.
- Global dried tomato production 250,000 tons in 2022.
- California's processing yield averaged 35 tons/acre in 2022.
- EU processed tomato output 10 million tons in 2022.
- Iran processed 2 million tons into paste for domestic use.
- Global ketchup production consumed 2.8 million tons tomatoes in 2022.
- Tomato powder global production 50,000 tons in 2022.
- France processed 1 million tons into sauces in 2022.
- Processing waste generated 20% of tomato weight globally in 2022.
- Hybrid processing varieties increased yields by 15% in 2022.
- Global tomato puree production 5 million tons in 2022.
- Nigeria small-scale processing 200,000 tons informal in 2022.
- Automated processing lines in Italy handled 500 tons/day per plant.
Processing Interpretation
While China pours tomatoes into juice and paste at a staggering 25 million tons, Italy, California, and a host of others fervently chop, can, and condense the rest of the world's 40-million-ton bounty, proving that global cuisine is fundamentally, and deliciously, painted red.
Production
- Global tomato production in 2022 totaled 186.821 million metric tons, an increase of 1.2% from 2021.
- China produced 65.517 million metric tons of tomatoes in 2022, accounting for 35.1% of global output.
- India ranked second with 21.255 million metric tons of tomato production in 2022.
- Turkey produced 13.5 million metric tons of tomatoes in 2022, up 5% from the previous year.
- Egypt's tomato production reached 6.115 million metric tons in 2022.
- The United States harvested 10.8 million metric tons of tomatoes in 2022, primarily in California.
- Spain produced 5.1 million metric tons of tomatoes in 2022, mainly in Almeria and Murcia regions.
- Iran yielded 6.8 million metric tons of tomatoes in 2022 from 140,000 hectares.
- Brazil's tomato production was 4.2 million metric tons in 2022.
- Nigeria produced 5.8 million metric tons in 2022, mostly for local markets.
- Global tomato harvested area in 2022 was 4.85 million hectares.
- Average global tomato yield in 2022 was 38.5 tons per hectare.
- California's tomato production hit 14.5 million tons in 2022, valued at $1.2 billion.
- Netherlands greenhouse tomato production reached 850,000 tons in 2022 from 1,200 hectares.
- Mexico produced 3.8 million metric tons of tomatoes in 2022, with Sinaloa leading.
- Italy's tomato output was 5.9 million tons in 2022, focused on processing varieties.
- Pakistan harvested 640,000 tons from 58,000 hectares in 2022.
- Ghana's production grew to 450,000 tons in 2022.
- Algeria produced 2.3 million tons in 2022.
- Morocco's tomato yield averaged 60 tons/ha in 2022 from protected cultivation.
- Global production growth rate from 2018-2022 averaged 2.1% annually.
- China's tomato yield improved to 52 tons/ha in 2022.
- Florida fresh tomato production was 400,000 tons in 2022.
- Vietnam produced 1.9 million tons in 2022.
- Uzbekistan's output reached 1.5 million tons from 15,000 ha.
- Global organic tomato production estimated at 1.2 million tons in 2022.
- Australia's tomato production was 450,000 tons in 2022, mostly hydroponic.
- Greece produced 950,000 tons in 2022 from Crete.
- Portugal's tomato harvest was 1.1 million tons in 2022.
- South Africa's production hit 750,000 tons in 2022.
- Global fresh tomato production in 2022 was 75% of total output.
Production Interpretation
The world's salad bowl is undeniably crowded, yet China firmly holds the steering wheel, producing over a third of all global tomatoes while a determined pack of nations jostles for position in a market that grew by a stubborn, steady dribble of just over 1% last year.
Trade
- Global tomato exports in 2022 valued at $10.2 billion.
- Netherlands exported 1.1 million tons of tomatoes worth $1.8 billion in 2022.
- Spain was the top fresh tomato exporter with 2.5 million tons in 2022.
- Mexico exported 1.9 million tons to the US, valued at $2.5 billion in 2022.
- Morocco exported 1.2 million tons mainly to EU in 2022.
- Turkey's tomato exports reached 750,000 tons worth $600 million in 2022.
- Canada imported 400,000 tons from US and Mexico in 2022.
- China exported 1.1 million tons of processed tomatoes in 2022.
- Italy exported 1.8 million tons of processed tomato products in 2022.
- US tomato imports totaled 1.6 million tons, 90% from Mexico in 2022.
- Global processed tomato trade volume 12 million tons in 2022.
- Jordan exported 150,000 tons to Middle East in 2022.
- Russia imported 1.5 million tons of tomatoes in 2022.
- Germany imported 700,000 tons fresh tomatoes in 2022.
- Belgium's re-exports of tomatoes 500,000 tons in 2022.
- Tunisia exported 300,000 tons to EU in 2022.
- Israel exported 450,000 tons, value $400 million in 2022.
- UK imported 450,000 tons fresh tomatoes in 2022.
- Processed tomato paste trade led by Italy at 2 million tons in 2022.
- France imported 250,000 tons fresh in 2022.
- Global fresh tomato trade growth 4.5% in 2022.
- Poland exported 200,000 tons to EU neighbors in 2022.
- South Africa exported 250,000 tons to Middle East in 2022.
- Japan imported 700,000 tons tomatoes in 2022.
- Greece exported 300,000 tons mainly to Germany in 2022.
- Global tomato trade value up 8% to $10.2 billion in 2022.
- Netherlands tomato export price averaged $1.6/kg in 2022.
- US-Mexico tomato trade dispute affected $1 billion in 2022.
- Egypt exported 100,000 tons fresh tomatoes in 2022.
- China imported 200,000 tons fresh tomatoes in 2022.
- Global processed tomato trade value $8.5 billion in 2022.
Trade Interpretation
The global tomato trade is a surprisingly lucrative game of hot-potato, where the Netherlands masters high-value precision, Spain and Mexico move mountains of fresh fruit, and Italy turns it all into a saucy, processed empire.
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