AMITOM crop update as of 2 October 2024

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Sophie
October 5, 2024

AMITOM crop update as of 2 October 2024

Bulgaria

It is estimated that about 50,000 tonnes of the forecast of 60,000 tonnes have already been processed. Quality is good with an average brix of about 5 and it is a very successful season. The harvest should end around 10 October.

Egypt

Due to adverse weather conditions the summer season was end up earlier than expected. Harvesting of Nili crop expected to start by mid of October, and transplanting of the winter crop will be completed by November.

France

As of 30 September, a total of about 150,000 tonnes had been processed with an average brix of 5.07 and 7.31% penalties, higher than last year. While in the south-east volumes are now close to 90% of the contracts, in the south-west it is still around 50%. Due to the succession of rains most weeks in the south-west since the spring, it is likely that final production in the region will only be two-thirds of contracts which means that total production will probably not reach 180,000 tonnes but only 165,000 to 170,000 tonnes when harvest ends mid-October. Organic production will notably be less than expected.

Greece

The rain which was feared at the time of the last update did not happen and the weather has been nice since. Yields for the late crop has been good so the estimate is raised to 510,000 tonnes. The crop is now finished in the south and will continue this week and maybe one day into next week in the centre. Although now reduced slightly, brix has been good this season with an average of about 5.

Hungary

The end of the season was difficult due to the rain that arrived in mid-September, and the delivery and production were finally completed on 25 September. In the course of the 2024 season, around 120,000 tonnes of tomatoes were processed with an average yield of about 75 t/ha (calculated for the entire area, in which the hailstorms in July were a big blow) and with approximately 5.15% average refraction, a record level.

Iran

The processing is now finish in the south but continuing in the west and north, probably until the end of October as the harvest is abut 2 to 3 weeks late. Some tomatoes are diverted to the fresh and export markets which command a higher price so the estimation of total volume processed is now reduced to 1.4 million tonnes. Some rains are now affecting the north of the country.

Italy

In the north, the last available figures from the IO as of 22 September report a volume processed of 2.2 million tonnes with an average brix of 5.03 and 5.02% of penalties. It can be estimated that a further 100,000 tonnes were processed last week bringing the total to about 2.3 million tonnes at the end of September. Processing will continue at a very slow rate this week and next week, but the expectations are that the final volume should be approximately 2.4 million tonnes, a reduction due to lower farmer yields and rain interruptions during the season.

In the south, on the contrary the season has been going well with over 2.75 million tonnes processed as of 22 September and over 2.8 million tonnes expected in total bringing the total volume expected in Italy to 5.25 million tonnes. Most factories are now closed, and volumes received are small with some factories processing passata for companies from the north. Although the total fresh volume is higher than in 2023, the industrial yield has been low this year due to low brix and a harder selection to maintain the quality high levels in presence of more sunburnt tomatoes. For this reason, the volume of finished products (wholepeel, pulp, passata, …) will be lower.

Portugal

It is estimated that about 80% of the total volume had been processed as of 30 September. Two factories closed at the end of last week, a few more are closing this week or early next week. Tomato quality has been good till the end of the season this year, with very few overmature fruits. The weather is changing today, and some rain is forecast but it is the end of the season. The final volume will close to the forecast of 1.5 million tonnes.

Spain

In Andalusia the last factory closed on 20 September and in Extremadura plants started closing a couple of weeks ago with a few factories still processing this week. The weather has remained good throughout September with some rains but no disruption to the harvest and very good fruit quality, even better than for the early crop.

In the North the harvest is very delayed and should continue until early November.

It is estimated that close to 3 million tonnes have already been processed and the total could reach nearly 3.1 million tonnes if conditions in the North remain good.

Tunisia

The processed volume reached 958,000 tonnes at the end of September.

Turkey

The harvest in the main producing areas is over with most factories shut down. The late Konya region still continues with small delays due to localised showers. The crop overall is around 90% through. We maintain the original forecast.