Tomato processing: Italy second worldwide, China on its heels

THE global outlook for production, processing, distribution and consumption of processing tomatoes will be discussed major key players in the national and international markets during the World Processing Tomato Congress from 8-11 June 2014 in Sirmione (Garda Lake), Italy, the second largest processing tomato producer worldwide.

“From the field to the consumer plate: working together to shape the future for processed tomato products” is the central topic of this year’s World Processing Tomato Congress organized by AMITOM (Mediterranean International Association of the Processing Tomato) and the World Processing Tomato Council (WPTC). Thanks to a unique forecasting model based on real supply-chain data, WPTC will present data about the world consumption of processing tomatoes expected in the next few years at the Congress.

Italy is second only to the world’s largest producer, California, but its position is threatened by China. In 2013, Italy produced 4 million tons of processing tomatoes, and China – after a period of decline – about 3.8 million. China’s rapid growth trend suggests that in 2014, however, that its production may return to 5 million, reaching or even overtaking Italy's forecast production but unlikely to reach California's expected production of 12.2 million tons. The other leading producing countries are Turkey, Spain, Iran, Brazil and Portugal, according to the WPTC.

World production of processing tomatoes declined over the last five years from 42.3 million tons in 2009 to the more modest figure of 33.2 million tons in 2013. On the other hand, the world consumption trend seems to have settled at 38 million tons, which is the production quantity forecast for 2014, according to the earliest indications. 

Some of the issues to be brought to the attention of the more than 500 sector operators: What will happen in the next few years? Will there be market equilibrium or is a shortage of processed product likely? What scenario lies ahead for Italy? Who will be the new consumers of the future and what will they consume? These discussions alongside the interventions by the main operators from India, Russia, Brazil and Iran – the new markets – will make it possible to outline future market arrangements and strategies for the promotion and marketing of the product. 

Key points that will be addressed in the World Processing Tomato Congress 2014 sessions are: technological innovation, new packaging frontiers, and the relationship between environmental and economic sustainability in the supply chain, in other words, the crucial challenges that sector companies will have to face in the coming years. Professionals will also be able to participate in the “Post Congress Tour”, organized in association with the Emilia Romagna region, which will take place in Parma from 11-13 June 2014, with a rich programme of technical visits to farms, processing plants and research centres promoting the activities of the tomato supply chain in the territory.

The Congress is hosted by the Italian Association of Food Product Industries (AIIPA) and by Fedagri Confcooperative (National Federation of Agricultural and Agri-food Cooperatives), under the auspices of the Processing Tomato District Interprofessional Organization – Northern Italy, and in cooperation with ANICAV – National Association of Vegetable Preserves Industries. Prominent sponsors in the tomato processing sector include CFT, Graco and Tetra Pak, global suppliers of processing and packaging solutions and technologies and Pomì-Consorzio Casalasco del Pomodoro, a key international player in tomato processing.