International Mediterranean Association of Processed Tomatoes

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AMITOM crop update as of 19 July 2023

Egypt

We are in the peak of the summer season and processing in full capacity, quality is very good and yield as well. The forecast remains the same as reported last time.

France

The campaign started yesterday for a plant in the South-East. Another will open on Monday 24 July, and the South-West is due to start at the beginning of August. It is hard to say what is going on with the crops, as they can be so unpredictable from one area to another. Temperatures are at 35-37°C this week, and this should continue this weekend. We’re likely to see more flower abortions like last year. However, after late spring/early summer mildew, which is still present in the South-West, we have noctuid moths, which are very present in the South-East. We are maintaining the forecast of 150,000 tonnes, which was revised downwards, for the time being. 

Greece

The heatwave is currently very strong with temperatures of 42-43 °C expected in the next few days. One benefit is that it is stopping the spread of mildew (peronosporos). The forecast is reduced to 430,000 tonnes. 

Hungary

The first phytophthora symptoms appeared since mid-June, and since then it has caused problems in several places. High air humidity and foggy mornings do not help protection. Hopefully the heat of the past few days will help this time. This year’s vintage proves the use of phytophthora-tolerant varieties. The beginning of the harvest is planned to 14th of August.

Iran

The harvest in the south is almost finished and it is starting in the north where temperatures are higher than normal at about 42°C currently. Water availably is an issue this year and the problem will only get worse in the coming years. It is estimated that total tomato production should increase by 5 to 10% this year from about 6.5 million tonnes with about 20% of the total crop processed.

Italy

In the North, although the official figures on the surfaces planted will be released at the end of July, indications received are that the surfaces are about 5% more than last year and this this could reduce losses due to flooded areas and lower yields of early crops. At this stage the forecast for northern Italy remains similar to last year 2.9 million tonnes. The harvest is starting this week with specialities like datterini and cherry tomatoes but most factories will start next week with significant quantities from the end of the month. The current heatwave is quite heavy with temperatures of 37-39°C remaining high at night which means a risk of flower abortion for the middle and late crop. The forecast is for the weather to remain hot for the next few days with some thunderstorms forecasted in the weekend. It seems that the summer is not very stable in terms of weather.

 

In the South, the satellite survey established that a total of 29,600 hectares were planted which would mean a volume of 2.7 million tonnes with historical yields. The situation however is not so good.  The late planting and rain damage in Caserta in May mean there will be a drop in quantities during the second and third part of August and lots of tomatoes at the end of August and early September. It will be important to have a good weather until the beginning or even the middle of October. The current heatwave with temperatures of 43-44 °C in Puglia and 42°C in Lazio and Caserta yesterday, although luckily so far with cooler temperatures at night, could cause some flower abortions and reduced yields. Factories are starting to process cherry tomatoes this week and some with round tomatoes next week.

 

The total forecast for Italy remains 5.6 million tonnes.

Portugal

Some factories started yesterday and others will start this week. The weather is good at c. 30°C with no heatwave but a lot of wind in the last 8-10 days. There is no major concern at present and the forecast remains unchanged.

 

Russia

The weather has now improved; temperature is good at 29-34°C. The early harvest should start in two weeks and processing in full capacity from 10th of August. No change in the forecast at this stage. 

Spain

The crop started in Andalucia on 12th July, some days early than expected. High temperatures in the last weeks has advanced the harvesting. Factories are progressively increasing capacity and will run at full around 10th August. Quality so far is normal.

 

In Extremadura some factories have already started or will start this week. Most factories will start at the beginning of next week. High temperatures in last weeks are advancing maturation and is expected that factories will run at full early than normal.

 

So far we keep the same expectation volume at 2,6 million tonnes.

 

Tunisia

The campaign started on June 20 and 386,000 tonnes have already been processed. Currently, 18 factories process about 20,000 tonnes a day. 

Turkey

The temperatures are currently very high in the south where the harvest has started it is currently 42°C and expected to last for the next 5-6 days. This could speed ripening there and mean a gap between this crop and the north.


In the Bursa area, temperatures are lower at about 38°C and helping reduce the spread of mildew. There is no change in the forecast.

 

Ukraine

No new information