Tomatoes are among the most popular vegetables in the world after potatoes, with a world consumption of 186 million metric tons. Many people use tomatoes daily, whether in fresh salads or pasta sauces. With increasing global consumption, tomato production is expected to increase.
Tomato production benefits
Tomatoes are actually fruits, but we use them as vegetables. Tomatoes have a lot of health benefits. They are antioxidants so they reduce the risk of many diseases like heart disease and cancer. They are a good source of vitamins like vitamins C and K. Tomatoes are consumed in all kitchens around the world in fresh salads, canned tomatoes, tomato juice, sauces, and ketchup.
Ketchup
Ketchup is one of the most important tomato products that is made of tomato, including other additives, sweeteners, spices, and seasonings. It is popular around the world as it is served with fries, burgers, sandwiches, and most fast foods. The Global ketchup market was valued at USD 20 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 26.9 billion in 2033, with a CAGR of 2.7% from 2023 to 2033. tomato production is considered to have some of the highest economic value.
Most popular varieties of tomatoes
Tomatoes have hundreds of varieties that differ in shape, color, and size.
But there are some popular types in tomato production like:
1: Cherry tomatoes:
Cherry tomatoes have low calories but have a high concentration of antioxidants. They are juicy fruits that appear red, orange, or yellow.
2:Early girl tomatoes:
Early girl tomatoes are known for their sweet taste and are preferable in salads and sandwiches.
3:Roma tomatoes
Roma tomatoes or Plum tomatoes have a thick wall and are drier than other varieties so they are suitable for making perfect sauces.
4: Pear tomatoes
Pear tomatoes appear tiny in yellow color. We can use pear tomatoes in a salad or enjoy them as a snack.
5: Better boy tomatoes:
Better boy tomatoes grow easily as they are disease-resistant. These shiny red tomatoes are suitable for salad, sauces, and stews.
5 Top countries in tomato production
Tomato production was about 186 million metric tons globally in 2024.
1: China produces about 37% of the world’s tomato production, so it is considered the largest producer globally. It produces about 67 million tons per year.
2: India ranked in the second by producing about 20 million tons of tomato production.
3: Turkey produces approximately 13 million tons yearly.
4: The United States produces about 10 million tons of tomato production. The United States production has dropped because of weather changes, as believed.
5: Egypt comes in fifth place by producing about 6 million tons of tomatoes.
Why is China at the top of tomato production?
It is expected that Chinese tomato production will reach 74 million metric tons by 2026. There are several factors for this progress in China’s production.
First, this progress in production provides more incentives to Chinese farmers and encourages them to plant more tomatoes.
Second, saving more space for tomatoes because of falling prices of competing crops like cotton by 30%.
The third reason is using planting machines and harvesting machines. Now, Chinese crops are fully using machines for planting and harvesting, saving a lot of labor. The important factor is a good environment between farmers and processors by advising each other before the season. Also, farmers are paid well on time.
Top countries Exporting tomatoes
Mexico was the top exporter of tomatoes in 2023, achieving about $3.046 billion.
The main importer of Mexico was the United States which imports about 99.8% of Mexican exports.
The Netherlands was the 2nd largest exporter of tomatoes with a trade value of 1.924 billion dollars.
The main importers from the Netherlands were Germany, the United Kingdom, Poland, Sweden, and Italy.
Then Spain was the 3rd largest exporter by exporting tomatoes to Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands.
Morocco was the 4th largest exporter.
The main importers from Morocco were France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Spain, and Germany.
| tomatoes exporting countries in 2023 | trade value1000 USD | quantity (kg) |
| Mexico | 3,046,994.00 | 2,010,310,000 |
| Netherlands | 1,924,868.66 | 864,958,000 |
| Spain | 1,180,403.61 | 517,700,000 |
| Morocco | 1,140,296.73 | 658,746,000 |
Top countries importing tomatoes
In 2022 tomato imports were US$10.6 billion. But In 2023 it was US$11.5 billion so the size of this trade grows every year. The United States was the largest country in importing tomatoes, with about US$3 billion (29.2% of imported tomatoes).
The table below indicates the top countries importing tomatoes with their spend on it.
| top countries importing tomatoes | purchases valued | percentage of global imported tomatoes |
| United States | US$3 billion | 29.2% |
| Germany | $1.6 million | 15.1% |
| France | $946.1 million | 9.2% |
| The United Kingdom | $704.3 million | 6.9% |
| Netherlands | $411.9 million | 4% |
Main companies in the global tomato processing
Global tomato processing achieved US$ 6725 million in 2023 and is expected to be US$9782.8 million by 2030.
Global tomato processing has some main players in this field like:
1: The Morning Star Company
The Morning Star is a leading company in the field of tomato products achieving $800 million annually.
It’s located in California. They supply about 40% of the global market with ingredients in tomato pasta and diced tomatoes.
2: COFCO Tunhe Tomato Co., Ltd
Cofco Tunhe Tomato CC Co., Ltd is a Chinese company in the processing and sales of tomatoes that exports tomato products to more than 80 countries and regions. It has 12 tomato processing plants as it produces 300,000 tons of bulk package tomato paste, 5000 tons of tomato powder, 15,000 tons of chili paste, 10 tons of tomato oleoresin, and 3500 tons of apricot puree.
3: Xinjiang Chalkis Company Ltd.
Xinjiang Chalkis Company Ltd. Is located in China. It produces tomato pasta, ketchup, sauces, and lycopene capsules. The company exports tomato paste to more than 40 countries.
4: Ingomar packing company
Ingomar Packing Company is located in California. It produces tomato paste and diced tomatoes.
5: Conesa Group
Conesa Group is a leading company in Europe that produces tomato paste and sauces.
Conclusion
Tomato production plays an important role in the global economy. Also, Tomatoes are the main favorite fruit (or vegetable) in the daily life of every family. So it is necessary to improve crops of tomatoes to overcome the environmental changes in the future.
Find a list of exporters of tomatoes worldwide on iSupply.ai global directory
