Amitom countries
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
The very unstable weather with rain, wind and changes in temperatures is delaying plantings. Although these started early on 18 March, to date only about 50% of the surfaces have been planted. More rain is expected this week and next week. It is possible that not all of the planned 2,400 ha will be planted, and in the fields, transplants are developing slowly. Harvest will probably only start at the very end of July with most of the production expected at the end of August.
Average field gate prices are about 140 euros in the south-east and 115 euros in the south-west.
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.
Other WPTC countries in the Northern Hemisphere
California
The estimate is to process 535,915 short tons (486,174 metric tonnes) this week. At the end of this week (week ending 5 October) we will have processed 10,420,172 short tons (9,452,865 metric tonnes). Overall, the harvest continues to show some split sets due to the heat earlier in the year. Volumes will continue to decline weekly, and we will continue processing until the later part of the month. The current estimate for the crop is close to 11 million short tons (just under 10 million metric tonnes).
In the other US states, harvesting should finish by 15 October with volumes are as forecasted. Harvest season weather has been on the drier side for the most part, in the Mid-West.
Chine
No changes to report.
Japan
Harvesting in the Hokkaido region will continue until around 10 October, which will mark the end of all harvesting in Japan. The total forecast remains 28,000 tonnes.
Other WPTC countries in the Southern Hemisphere
Brazil
There is no change as the weather is cooperating and there are no issues with diseases.
