Major tomato producers in the world. The tomato market in russia and abroad. Features of cultivation of tomatoes

Tomatoes are a popular crop, regardless of seasons and regions. This is the leader of the vegetable market, which is purchased both fresh and for the purpose of subsequent processing. How and where does a tomato get on the counter in the form of a ripe fruit or a jar of tomato?

Features of cultivation of tomatoes

Tomato production is not easy, like everything related to plant growing and horticultural crops. This is due to the fact that the main factor affecting the volume of cultivation and productivity is the weather. There are no forecasts that would cover the entire period of tomato development in a particular region. Consequently, it is impossible to predict the development of events from the moment of preparation of the soil to the dispatch of the finished product. In addition, insects and diseases that are inherent in this culture are affected.

Most manufacturers, trying to compensate and smooth out the possibility of a sharp change in weather conditions, use modern technologies in agricultural technology, irrigation, harvesting tomatoes or pre-transport processing.

Tomatoes are grown in open ground or in specially equipped greenhouses and greenhouses. Thus, it is possible to harvest regardless of the seasonality and the inconsistency of the climate of the region with the conditions for growing crops.

For industrial cultivation within the same farm, varieties with different ripening periods are used:

  • early maturing: the period from planting to ripening takes about three months;
  • mid-season - up to four months;
  • late ripening - from 120 days or more.

Thus, it is possible to launch the principle of continuity in the flow of ripening, which makes it possible to prepare the land between cultivation of individual batches. Remember that the tomato is an annual.

At the same time, varieties are selected taking into account their yield indicators per unit area. There are Dutch hybrids that produce 20 kg of fruit per 1 sq. m of planting, and the new varieties bred by Canadian breeders also beat this record: up to 38 kg can be removed from the same area.

Tomato producers

The world tomato market is 150-170 million tons per year. 5 million hectares are used for their cultivation worldwide. China is considered the largest producer (about 40 million tons). At the same time, the country specializes in the export of processed tomatoes. Further in descending order the following countries: USA (16 million tons), Turkey (10-12 million), India (10-11 million), Egypt (9-11 million), Italy (7-8 million).

Russia ranks 12th in the rating of manufacturers. Its contribution is estimated at 3-4 million tons per year. Over the past couple of years, the industry has picked up some pace, as it was stimulated by an increase in purchase prices due to the refusal to purchase from some foreign manufacturers. All tomatoes of Russian origin are used in the domestic market, since the country's real demand is 8-10 tons. The difference is compensated by purchases from foreign manufacturers.

Tomato: from seed to fruit on the counter

Tomato growing farms are full-cycle enterprises, where production has a circular turnover. The squares are occupied in such a way that there are no empty ones. Tomatoes are grown on their own from seed to full plant and harvest. Further, after the disposal of aged plants, the cycle resumes. At the same time, fertilizers are applied to enrich the land.

In order to protect themselves from crop losses due to insects or crop diseases, producers make appropriate treatments in a timely manner. As the plants grow, they carry out a garter of the grown lashes, because most industrial varieties are liana-like. Separate bushes form, while excess green mass is removed.

Systematic watering is carried out all the time, humidity and temperature are controlled. Most modern production facilities are equipped with automatic systems that continuously monitor indicators and connect the necessary equipment.

Harvesting of tomatoes is carried out at a time. Depending on the variety and type of planting (open or closed ground), it can be carried out in several stages for the maturation of individual tiers. As a rule, mass harvesting begins at the time of 70-80% of maturity of all tomatoes on the plantation. On areas of open ground, it is possible to use special harvesting equipment, which significantly increases the productivity and assembly time.

Since the tomato is a delicate fruit, in the case of its transportation over long distances, the assembly is carried out until it is fully ripe. So, for example, if the tomatoes have to cover the path in a week, the harvest is carried out in "milk" ripeness. That is, the tomato has reached a mature and mature size, changed color from deep green to whitish. If it is a couple of days before the final consumer, then the fruit should have a slightly brownish color.

The harvested fruits undergo pre-transportation processing. They are calibrated, the damaged, with foulbrood, overripe are screened out. At the same time, sorting takes place according to the degree of ripening. Laying for transportation is carried out in special boxes or trays. Tomatoes are stored in special rooms with a low temperature.

If long-distance transportation is required, a gas mixture of oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide is pumped into the shipping containers. Another mixture (with ethylene) can speed up the ripening.

Imported products reach Russia by sea and land, depending on the country of origin. Transportation from domestic farms is carried out by specially equipped vehicles . The sale of tomatoes in retail chains is carried out in the shortest possible time.

"Plum tomato" in Moscow costs 298.5 rubles. Price "Tomatoes Greenhouse Plant LipetskAgro Pink Greenhouse" 135.4 rubles. in Moscow, The price of Standard Tomato in Moscow is 198.4 rubles.

Research of the company "Technologies of Growth"

Tomatoes, or tomatoes, are the most popular and ubiquitous vegetable crops in the world. The volumes of their production and consumption are gradually growing: over the past 30 years, the world tomato market has tripled.
In terms of their popularity, tomatoes have long outdone even bananas, the world consumption of which now reaches about 100 million tons. It is interesting that 45-50 years ago, bananas and tomatoes were grown in the world about the same amount.
The last 3 years, the volume of the world tomato market, according to the company "Technologies of Growth", is about 150-160 million tons (rice. 1 ) .

The mountainous regions of Peru and Ecuador, where they were cultivated by the ancient Aztecs and Incas at the beginning of the 8th century AD, are considered the homeland of tomatoes. In the middle of the 16th century, tomatoes first came to Portugal and Spain, and from there they spread throughout Europe.
In Russia, they learned about tomatoes in the 18th century, however, for almost 100 years they were used only as an ornamental plant. By the way, the Americans, having safely forgotten the rich experience of the aborigines, also considered the tomato a poisonous plant until the 20s of the XIX century, and only then they rediscovered it for themselves.
The long history of tomato penetration into the European market has given this wonderful culture especially romantic names. The Italians called them "golden apples", the Germans called them "heavenly apples", and the French called them "apples of love."
There is still no unanimous opinion in the world as to what type of crops tomatoes belong to. In everyday life, they are mainly considered vegetables. However, fruits grow on vines and are grown from seeds - hence, they are berries. In 2001, the European Union ordered the tomato to be considered a fruit.
But whatever botanical species the tomato belongs to, its special biological value is universally recognized. The tomato contains sugars (mainly fructose and glucose), mineral salts: iodine, potassium, phosphorus, boron, magnesium, sodium, manganese, calcium, iron, copper, zinc. Tomatoes are rich in vitamins A, B, B 2, B 6, C, E, K, PP and beta-carotene. The percentage of these vitamins is in direct proportion to the ripeness of tomatoes - the more ripe and redder they are, the healthier they are.
Tomatoes contain organic acids (citric, malic, tartaric and a small amount of oxalic). Tomatoes are a good antidepressant, they regulate the functioning of the nervous system, thanks to serotonin, they improve mood. Tomatoes have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties due to their phytoncide content. Tomatoes are very beneficial for the digestive system, they improve digestion and metabolism.
The composition of tomato contains a powerful antioxidant - lycopene, a unique natural medicine for many diseases, including cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Processed tomatoes have even more lycopene than raw tomatoes.
A sharp increase in consumer interest in tomato culture has led to intensive work of breeders: now there are already at least 10,000 varieties of tomatoes in the world. The smallest tomato is less than 2 centimeters in diameter, and the largest weighs almost 1.5 kilograms. There are red, yellow and even black varieties!
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAOSTAT), in terms of cultivation area, tomato ranks first in the world among vegetable crops - a total of about 4 million hectares have been allocated for it. At the same time, 60% of the entire area belongs to protected ground: glass, film greenhouses, off-season greenhouses and shelters.
Most of the "tomato" areas in China - about 1 million hectares (rice. 2 ) .

Almost 50 million tons of tomatoes are grown there, a significant part of which is intended for industrial processing.
In the United States, on 177 thousand hectares in 2010, 12.9 million tons of tomatoes were harvested. The yield of this vegetable in the United States is one of the highest in the world, the average yield per hectare is more than 72 tons of tomatoes.
The third place in the world in terms of gross harvest is in India, where they grew 12.4 million tons. More than 520 thousand hectares are involved in India, with an average yield of 24 tons per hectare.
In Turkey, tomatoes occupy 225 thousand hectares, in Egypt - about 200 thousand hectares. Egyptian growers grow 8.5 million tons, and Turkish farmers - more than 10 million tons of tomatoes per year, and their volumes are growing every year. The tomato yield in these countries is 42–45 tons per hectare.
A significant difference in yield is explained by the agricultural technologies used, as well as the share of protected soil in the total area of ​​tomato plantations in the country.
In the countries of Eastern and Northern Europe, tomatoes are mainly grown in greenhouses. It occupies 70-90% of the exploited area of ​​industrial greenhouses.
Russia ranks 6th in the world in terms of area and 12th in tomato production. In 2011, we have grown about 2.4 million tons of tomatoes in all types of farms (rice. 3 ) .

The volume of local tomato production is now almost 3 times lower than 20 years ago. Moreover, the personal farms of the population (LHN) collect the bulk of the harvest - about 90%.
On the territory of Russia, tomatoes are grown industrially in open ground, in film and winter glass or plastic greenhouses.
The overwhelming majority of domestic tomatoes are grown in the open ground and in spring greenhouses of personal and subsidiary farms of the population and are intended primarily for personal consumption of citizens. A very small proportion of LHN tomatoes are sold at local vegetable markets and fairs.
The bulk of domestic greenhouse tomatoes for sale are grown in industrial greenhouses. Households use spring and summer greenhouses and film greenhouses, which help to get the harvest 2-3 weeks earlier in the open field, however, in the cold season, greenhouse tomatoes are grown exclusively in an industrial way.
The share of protected ground in tomato production is still low. Of 1.8 thousand hectares of industrial greenhouses, tomatoes account for 15-20% of the area in the winter-spring turnover and 70-80% in the summer-autumn turnover.
Research of the vegetable growing industry in greenhouses of the Rosta Technologies company shows that industrial greenhouses of the South and North Caucasian Federal Districts, in comparison with other regions of the Russian Federation, pay much more attention to the cultivation of the tomato crop.
Half of the 2011 harvest of greenhouse vegetables in the south represented a wide assortment of tomatoes, including varieties that are not widespread in the Russian Federation: red and yellow cherry, cocktail, plum, pink, BIF. In industrial greenhouses of the Central and Volga FDs, the share of tomatoes among greenhouse crops is almost 2 times lower. In the North-West, Ural and Siberian districts, cucumber occupies up to 85-90% of the gross harvest.
Domestic export of fresh tomatoes between regions allows for the redistribution of a rich harvest from the southern regions to the northern and eastern regions. Nevertheless, the average Russian domestic production of fresh tomatoes on an industrial scale is only 1.64 kg per person per year, which is absolutely insufficient for the domestic demand market.
In many countries of the world, the greenhouse industry takes a leading place in the production of vegetables. According to experts, in the foreseeable future in developed countries, crop production will almost completely switch to technologies for growing most crops in protected soil.
The bulk of the tomatoes, which averaged almost 15 kg per person in 2011, are obtained by Russians from their private gardens. (rice. 4 ) .

The deficit of the domestic market for fresh tomatoes is being successfully filled by imported producers. The prevalence of overseas vegetables becomes especially obvious in the cold season.
The Russian market for greenhouse vegetables is oversaturated with imported products; the total volume of imports of greenhouse vegetables for the period 2000-2010 increased by more than 300%. Since 2006, the growth in imports has significantly outpaced the growth in the production of gross greenhouse products of the domestic producer.
According to analysts of "Technology of Growth", imported tomatoes occupy up to 95% of the Russian market in the winter-spring period, depending on the region.
In 2011, only the official import of fresh tomatoes through Russian customs exceeded 755 thousand tons (rice. 5 ) .

In 2012, the trend towards a gradual reduction in the price of fresh tomatoes imported to Russia becomes obvious, while the rate of increase in import volumes decreases.
Turkey has been the absolute leader among importers of fresh tomatoes to Russia for many years - it accounts for 45 to 50% of all tomato imports. (rice. 6 ) .

The main advantages of Turkish tomatoes have been and remain the low cost of production and the possibility of stable supplies throughout the year.
China is steadily taking the second place by a large margin.
The countries in third position change from year to year, but most often Ukraine, the Netherlands, Azerbaijan and Morocco are here.
The potential of the domestic tomato market is currently many times higher than the current volume of industrial production.
Detailed information on the balance and forecasts of supply and demand in the segment of fresh tomatoes in Russia is given in the study “Fresh Tomatoes (TNVED 070200). Production in the Russian Federation, export, import. Market deficit and potential ”, prepared by the analysts of the“ Technologies of Growth ”company.

Tamara Reshetnikova,
General Director of the research company "Technologies of Growth"

Foreign exporters have long settled in the Russian tomato market. However, not all products that find their way to our counters from abroad can be called good.

The volume of tomato imports to Russia is striking: last year alone, it amounted to about 600 thousand tons. So far, the share of imports accounts for at least 50% of all products.


In Russia, foreign origin of a product is often associated with high quality, but this is not entirely true for tomatoes. To begin with, it is worth figuring out where “foreigners” come from to the shelves of domestic stores.

Exporting countries

There are several main countries supplying tomatoes to Russia. These are mainly Turkey, Azerbaijan, Morocco, Iran and China. Unfortunately, imported products are often not of the highest quality, and Russian regulatory authorities cannot monitor compliance with sanitary standards in exporting countries. In addition, imported tomatoes are removed from the branch while still green, since their transportation to our country takes about two weeks. But tomatoes are not bananas or avocados and cannot fully ripen if picked. Useful substances accumulate in tomatoes only on the branch during the ripening process.

Imported tomatoes are often very high in pesticides. There are especially many of them in tomatoes from China, which are mainly supplied to the northern regions of the Russian Federation. When such a product reaches the store, it already takes on a white tint. Thus, pesticides become visible on the surface of the fruit. At the same time, the cost of tomatoes brought from abroad remains high, but the lack of an alternative forces consumers to purchase a low-quality product.

Another exporting country is Uzbekistan. Uzbek tomatoes are high in sugar, and the producers achieve this without the use of artificial feeding. This distinguishes Uzbek tomatoes from other imported ones. However, both those and those cannot be called affordable for the consumer - for example, the price of Uzbek tomatoes in the season (June - August) averages about 300 rubles per 1 kg, in the off-season - twice or even three times more.

Turkish tomatoes, on the other hand, have a relatively low wholesale price - about 70 rubles per 1 kg, which is even lower than the production cost of domestic tomatoes. However, the quality is noticeably worse and such tomatoes are stored for two to three days at most - the shelf life of Russian ones is ten times longer.

But what about import substitution?

Despite the course of import substitution taken by the Government of the Russian Federation, foreign tomatoes will dominate our market for some time. At the same time, there are no prerequisites for their quality to increase: in Russia there is a high demand for tomatoes, which is why foreign producers do not pay much attention to the organoleptic properties of products, relying only on the volume of the harvest. The situation is complicated by the fact that due to high tariffs for electricity required for greenhouse complexes, prices for Russian tomatoes are higher than for foreign ones.

Another problem for Russian producers is their heavy dependence on foreign seeds. Nevertheless, Russian scientists are actively pursuing scientific research to develop their own seed production and selection. The Federal Scientific and Technical Program for the Development of Agriculture stipulates that by 2026 the supply of original and elite seeds in the crops most dependent on imports should increase to at least 75%.

The growth of the domestic market gives reason to hope for the best in the near future: as analysts predict, by 2021-2022 the share of Russian manufacturers will grow to 80%, which will allow replacing low-quality foreign products. Recently, our manufacturers have already begun to fill this niche with high-quality and safe products.

How to choose quality tomatoes?

To choose quality tomatoes, you need to pay attention to three important factors: the manufacturer, the appearance and the smell of the fruit. Carefully study the label and information about where the tomatoes grew. It is safe to say that domestic products are of an order of magnitude better. Among Russian tomatoes, it is better to buy those grown in the Stavropol Territory, where there is more natural light than, for example, in the Belgorod and Kaluga regions.

It is best to buy packaged fruits in a package, and not lying in bulk in a box, as is the case in some stores. It is safer from the point of view of hygiene, and will also give confidence that this is a Russian tomato. When selling tomatoes in bulk, when they are in the open access in boxes, the probability of an accidental or non-accidental re-grading is too high, when a tomato, say, from Turkey, ends up in a box of some Stavropol manufacturer. And this despite the fact that the price of domestic tomato is usually higher.



The appearance and smell can tell a lot about the quality of tomatoes. The surface of a ripe tomato is firm and firm, but not too thick, like grown with nitrates. In addition, the surface should be free of damage, rot spots, white streaks, greenish streaks under the skin, dried out areas or dots of different sizes.

Good tomatoes have uniform color, with the exception of striped varieties. The surface of the tomatoes should be shiny, but excessive gloss suggests that the fruit was treated with paraffin or wax-based substances to maintain its presentation. The danger of these substances is that they cannot be washed off with water and can lead to an upset stomach.

Ripe and natural fruits always have a mild, but pleasant, characteristic warm and sweet smell, and the tastier and juicier the aroma, the better the fruit. Although it should be borne in mind that the stems, leaves and brushes of tomatoes have the most intense tomato aroma. Therefore, if you buy a tomato without a branch, then most likely you will not hear a strong smell.

It is also helpful to pay attention to the weight of the fruit. The lungs will have voids inside and there will be more moisture in them than the pulp. Moderately dense and weighty tomatoes are usually fleshy and have much less moisture.

Recently, small tomatoes - cherry and cocktail varieties - are gaining popularity in Russia. These fruits have a diameter of 25 to 45 mm and are sold both on branches and individually in individual packaging. They are usually more aromatic and sweeter. These varieties have successfully learned to grow Russian agronomists, so the offer and range is growing from year to year. However, many consumers are lost, do not know how to eat them. Meanwhile, the varietal feature of small tomatoes, especially cherry tomatoes, is that in addition to their higher sweetness, they also have larger, in comparison with ordinary tomatoes, reserves of vitamin C and lycopene, powerful antioxidants. Lycopene is even recognized as one of the strongest plant defenders of the body against cancer cells.

Therefore, especially in the cold season, when the immune system needs support so much, it is worth consuming more of these healthy tomatoes.


And here, too, it is worth making a choice in favor of Russian products, since the most ripe and sweet cherry and cocktail tomatoes are grown in the Stavropol Territory.

TASS, October 30. Domestic producers of greenhouse vegetables are ready to compete with suppliers of tomatoes from Turkey, the restriction on the import of which Russia lifts from November 1. According to experts and market participants interviewed by TASS, the main advantages of Russian products will be their naturalness and taste, and tomatoes from the regions of the North Caucasus are ready to compete in price.

Investors who, under the conditions of import restrictions, began to build new greenhouses, also do not intend to abandon their projects, but they may need government support to achieve payback.

Russia imposed restrictions on the supply of goods from Turkey in November 2015 after the Turkish Air Force shot down a Russian Su-24 bomber in Syria. Since the summer of 2016, restrictions on the import of Turkish fruits and some types of vegetables have been gradually removed, but tomatoes have remained banned.

Not plastic

One of the largest greenhouses in Russia is AO Agrokombinat Yuzhny in Karachay-Cherkessia. According to the company's own data, it produces 7% of the total Russian volume of greenhouse vegetables. Last year, 46 thousand tons of vegetables were harvested here, the growth of production was 23% compared to the previous year. The executive director of the enterprise, Umar Uzdenov, admits that the plant "certainly strengthened its position during the time when Turkish tomatoes were absent on the Russian market."

"The lifting of the ban on the import of tomatoes from Turkey is, of course, a reduction in the comfort zone. But at the same time, it is an additional incentive to increase our competitive advantages, a reason to continue looking for opportunities to reduce the cost of grown products," Uzdenov told TASS.

Sergey Makarov, head of the large greenhouse farm "Vegetables of Stavropol", is sure that supplies from Turkey will not affect the volume of tomato production in Russia. “Our prices are affordable and the quality is better. We are out of competition, we have environmentally friendly products, we do not work with chemistry, so the taste is much better, it is easy to distinguish them from Turkish "plastic" ones. Now demand is outstripping supply, we have concluded agreements with large retail chains, because we provide year-round supplies, this suits them, ”Makarov said.

They are not afraid of the return of Turkish tomatoes to Kabardino-Balkaria. According to Irina Balkarova, head of the plant growing and seed production department of the Ministry of Agriculture of the KBR, today a relatively small amount of greenhouse vegetables is produced in the republic, while most of it is exported to other regions.

"Our largest enterprise is Agro-Kom LLC, which produces about 10 thousand tons - is this the volume for Russian needs? They have very good tomatoes, there is a queue behind them," Balkarova told TASS. Turkey is not so cheap: what is grown in our personal subsidiary plots - they have the same price. We are not afraid, let them be imported, "the agency's interlocutor added.

According to Ilya Ivanov, a consultant in the field of construction and development of industrial greenhouses, head of Green Consult LLC, the key advantages of tomato producers in the North Caucasus regions - lower cost, better taste and environmental friendliness of the product - will allow them to compete with Turkish importers. number in large retail chains. “As for small complexes with a capacity of about 500 tons of tomatoes per year, they will have to focus on the internal markets of the North Caucasus Federal District. Although they also have the prospect of gaining a foothold in large territories, for example, in Moscow and the Moscow region, ”the expert noted.

Pay for confidence

According to the head of the Kuban Greenhouses Association, the financial director of the Krasnodar Territory Vegetables greenhouse complex Alexei Konovalov, the price of domestic tomatoes will still be 15-20% higher than Turkish ones.

“Our tomato ripens in the greenhouse, it is delivered to the shelves fresher, and Turkey needs to pick tomatoes at an earlier stage of maturity, on the way it needs to be treated with appropriate preparations that ensure rapid ripening. qualitatively, but more expensive, or cheaper, but with certain risks, "the expert explained.

The head of the Rosselkhoznadzor Sergey Dankvert also pointed to this. According to him, vegetables supplied from Turkey may contain pesticides, which cannot be detected at this stage. “We have checkpoints where we enter the quantity (of supplied tomatoes - TASS note) into the electronic systems. But from the point of view of pesticides, which are not controlled today, this has not yet been regulated in any way, ”Dankvert explained, answering the question of the correspondent. TASS in Saratov.

Previously, these powers were with the Rosselkhoznadzor, but they stopped back in 2011, and “in general, now the Ministry of Agriculture is not responsible for the use of pesticides in agriculture,” he said.

Turkey is not a hindrance to greenhouses

Investors of new greenhouse complexes, the construction of which began in recent years, including against the backdrop of a food embargo on European and Turkish products, are not afraid of the return of Turkish tomatoes. In particular, Ikrom Yadgarov, the head of the Agroholding Suvorovsky project in the Tula region, where it is planned to invest 24 billion rubles in a greenhouse complex with an area of ​​100 hectares, is sure that “50 thousand tons of tomatoes allowed for import to Russia from Turkey is not significantly will affect the alignment in the domestic market. "

»The announced greenhouse complex construction project will be fully implemented by 2020. Already in 2018, we will start growing tomatoes, the planned production volume is 4.1 thousand tons per year, "Yadgarov told TASS. He noted that large chain retailers of the Central Federal District have already shown interest in purchasing Tula tomatoes, where it is planned to supply products of the new agricultural holding.

The second and third stages of a large greenhouse complex in 2018 are going to be commissioned in Novosibirsk, co-owner of the Siberian Giant trading holding and the Giant Gardens greenhouse complex Alexander Mantsurov told TASS. According to him, the loss of imported vegetables was not particularly noticed in the regional market, therefore they reacted calmly to the prospect of their return.

“We don’t feel this, Siberia is still far from Turkey. We have our regions here that traditionally supply vegetables and fruits, including the same tomatoes - this is Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. They are closer in terms of logistics and natural conditions. there they are similar to Turkish ones, so they grow tomatoes just as well, "said Mantsurov.

To a greater extent, the expert notes, the business in the field of production of greenhouse vegetables was influenced by the change in the exchange rate difference two years ago, when the dollar rose sharply. “Since the cost of imported vegetables is strongly tied to the currency, they have seriously risen in price. And in this part, that is, in vegetables that we can produce ourselves, we have a serious competitive advantage, "- explained the agency's interlocutor.

"Light up" to payback

Over the past three years, large funds have been invested in the production of tomatoes by agricultural enterprises, and the appearance of Turkish tomatoes will in any case affect the return on investment of new facilities, says Alexey Konovalov, head of the Kuban Greenhouses Association, Financial Director of the Krasnodar Territory Vegetables Greenhouse Complex. “There are large players who are quite seriously investing in the construction of greenhouse complexes, and now the growth rate is 150-200 hectares per year. If earlier we felt only external competition, now it is inside the country as well, ”said Konovalov.

"When the sanctions were introduced, it served as a good incentive, people went into this business, in particular, we have no end of customers for tomatoes, large shipments go to the central regions," confirms Sharip Sharipov, manager of the Dagestan Yugagroholding LLC. on an area of ​​5.5 hectares was put into operation in 2016, the second stage is planned to be completed by the end of this year. - We are not afraid, because we grow a pink tomato - there is a demand for it, and Turkish red tomatoes are not competitors to us - they have a different consumer group and pricing policy. "

Nevertheless, Sharipov believes that after the lifting of restrictions on the supply of Turkish tomatoes, it will not be easy for investors - they will need "new incentives, because the production of vegetables requires serious costs and risks."

"While there is ... the policy of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation to reimburse 20% of direct costs incurred to investors while the incentives are working. But this reimbursement, given the high cost of modern greenhouse projects, is not enough. In dairy farming, they have made 30%, we hope that the reimbursement will be increased here too," - noted the expert.

An alternative to direct financial support could be the introduction of a preferential electricity tariff for greenhouses, said Konovalov from the Kuban Teplitsy Association.

"In Russia it is possible to produce tomatoes only with the use of photoculture: here it must be" supplemented. " expert. He also noted that since Turkish suppliers spend more on transporting vegetables and pay customs duties, "the Russian producer could be supported with the help of customs regulation tools."

The mood in the global tomato market is not overly optimistic. In the first weeks of the new year, the pricing policy was not in favor of traders, the importers of the Netherlands and Belgium are especially unhappy.

The Belgian market is oversupplied due to good harvests in all countries. In Spain, farmers in the Almeria region are faced with the spread of pests. At the same time, manufacturers in Italy and Morocco are pleased with the start of the season.

Tomatoes are among the most consumed vegetables in the world. Total global production in 2016 was 177 million tonnes. Ten years ago, this figure was 30% lower. The area of ​​tomato plantations around the world is 5 million hectares. On average, productivity per 1 sq. m is 3.7 kg. The world's largest tomato producers are China and India, although the yield in India is low - less than 2.5 kg per sq. This contrasts sharply with the indicators of the USA (9.03 kg per 1 sq. m), Spain (8.62 kg per 1 sq. m) and Morocco (8.08 kg per 1 sq. m). The highest yield is harvested in Holland - an average of 50.7 kg per 1 sq. m.

Morocco

In recent decades, the tomato sector has grown significantly thanks to the modernization of the technologies and materials used. Tomatoes are one of the most important crops in Morocco. The area for planting tomatoes is 18,642 hectares, and in 2016 production exceeded 1.2 million tons. The sector creates thousands of jobs in the North African country and, thanks to its exports, is an important component of the economy.

The tomato production sector in Morocco consists of several parts.

Most of the greenhouses are concentrated in the Souss Massa and Dukkala Abda regions. The grown tomatoes are exported to the EU countries, Russia and Canada.

Early varieties of open field tomatoes from the Mulway, Temara Skhirat and Casablanca regions go to the domestic market. In the last ten years since the Green Morocco (Maroc Vert) plan was launched, planted areas have increased by about 14% to 20%. The harvest, however, remained unchanged.

Seasonal production is much less and the cultivation areas are mainly located in coastal areas. Tomatoes grown here also go to the domestic market.

Tomatoes are also grown for industrial processing in the districts of Meknes, Marrakech and Beni Mellal. Despite a sharp reduction in areas in recent years, from 4 thousand 350 hectares to 420 hectares, the volume of the harvest has grown significantly.

Since the implementation of the Green Morocco (Maroc Vert) plan, tomato exports have increased by 56%. In ten years, exports grew from 344 thousand tons to 537 thousand tons, and sales in local currency increased by 139%, from 2.03 billion dirhams to 4.8 billion dirhams ($ 523 million).

Turkey

The rise in tomato prices in Turkey may lead the country to open its borders for imports. The government noted that such a possibility was considered last month. Previously, Turkey had experience in importing tomatoes from Turkish Cyprus, Romania and Ukraine.

Russia has reopened its market to export tomatoes from Turkey. In 2017, an export permit was obtained for 50 thousand tons of tomatoes.

In 2016, the volume of tomato production in Turkey amounted to 12.6 million tons. Turkish consumers pay attention not only to prices but also to quality. Due to the strict requirements of Russia, only premium tomatoes can be sent to this market. Due to the lack of a good control system, tomatoes of low quality enter the domestic market.

The EU

Despite investments aimed at extending the supply season, the EU expects a normal harvest. At the same time, due to successful segmentation, the cost of selling products actually increases. In 2016, the EU produced about 18 million tons of tomatoes, 40% of which were sold fresh. The remaining volume was sent for processing. About 75% of production is in Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and France. About 94% of tomatoes in Italy, Spain and Portugal are sent for processing.

The volume of production has not increased in recent years. By 2030, the EU expects a 1.4% drop in tomato production. Thanks to the introduction of new varieties, especially in the segment of snack and cocktail tomatoes, the average selling price of these fruits increased by 20% in France, Germany, Italy and Spain between 2006 and 2016. Although the area under pressure is under pressure, the harvest has grown thanks to investments in the extension of the season. On average, Europeans consume 15 kg of tomatoes per person annually. According to experts, in 2030, consumption will amount to 14.4 kg per year per capita.

Netherlands

Market prices fell immediately after the beginning of the year, and the decline continues. Adverse weather conditions such as hail in Holland and tornadoes in Spain have had little impact on the market. The market is currently very volatile. According to importers, suppliers want more revenue than the market allows. In recent days, the price of Moroccan tomatoes has dropped. Demand is moderate, but not uncommon in the first weeks of the year. In the near future, the market will receive a crop from Spain. As a result, the competition in the plum tomato market will increase even more. The market for Spanish branch tomatoes also remains difficult due to the growth of greenhouse production of this type of vegetables in the Netherlands and Belgium.

Belgium

According to the Belgian trader, there are many tomatoes on the branch on the market. Due to the mild weather, the harvest in Europe is good, and in most countries there are many tomatoes of their own production. As a result, the demand for Belgian products is low. The cost for 1 kg of tomatoes on a branch varies from 1.15 euros to 1.20 euros per 1 kg.

France

Local tomato production in France is small and concentrated between March and November. At other times, the market needs are fully met by imported products.

Germany

The market is dominated by products from Spain, Turkey and Morocco. Tomato imports from the Netherlands are gradually declining. According to traders in Germany, due to the warm weather, the volume of tomato production in Holland is very high, but the quality decreases towards the end of the season. Suppliers confirm that the prices for Spanish tomatoes on the branch are several percent lower than the prices for Dutch products. The same goes for cherry tomatoes. In addition, Spanish prices are also slightly lower compared to last year, but are still above average prices at this time of year. This is due to the relatively cold weather recorded last month in the regions of Murcia and Almeria. It is worth noting that the quality of Spanish tomatoes was very high last year.

United Kingdom

The largest British tomato producer has announced an expansion. The company is investing in a new greenhouse on the Isle of Wight with more room for organic growing.

Poland

Local consumers prefer tomatoes grown in Poland, which have become even more affordable thanks to the advent of modern technology and artificial lighting. The tendency to expand the planting areas continues. In addition to focusing on the domestic market, Polish manufacturers are striving to enter the German market. To fill the gaps in the market, tomatoes were purchased from Spain, Turkey and Morocco.

Consumers pay particular attention to the size of vegetables and prices. Large tomatoes at low prices are usually the most popular. In recent years, taste has also become an important selection criterion. Pink tomatoes sell best. Production of pink tomatoes is expected to rise by 25% this year, a local grower said.

Sicily

The season kicked off in November with good prices for red tomato varieties such as cherry, datterino and piccadilly. The sowing campaign in September was postponed by 20 days due to precipitation. As a result, the season began with an empty market. This was reflected in prices. Deliveries will peak next month, after which the season will continue with reduced volumes until June. A representative of a local trading company noted that competition from North African countries this year has been negligible as they face their own challenges. The Dutch production season ends in November. Spanish tomato shipments pose a threat, but traders have become accustomed to this situation. The price of tomatoes in November and December ranged from 1.80 to 2.20 euros per kg for cherry tomatoes. The price of datterino tomatoes reached a record high of 2.00-2.50 euros per kg with a peak of 3 euros per kg. The price for piccadilly tomatoes ranged from 1.20-1.80 euros per 1 kg.

China

In 2017, prices in Shandong, the largest tomato growing region in the country, were low. They fell due to increased production and limited transportation opportunities resulting from stronger environmental legislation in the provinces. Moreover, tomato production has grown across the country due to higher average temperatures.

Spain

This year, tomato growers in the province of Almeria are faced with the spread of plant pests and diseases. The whitefly and the South American tomato moth were particularly harmful. To reduce the risk of crop losses, small farmers (2-3 ha), who make up about 80% of the sector in Almeria, decided to plant tomatoes later than usual. In addition, the weather was colder than usual in October and November, leading to a late start to the season. The few manufacturers who had the opportunity to supply their products in September-November were able to make good money on deliveries. However, by the end of December, temperatures were unusually high, resulting in overproduction and low prices. Due to the reduction in acreage, the situation may change in the coming weeks, as local growers reorient themselves to growing peppers instead of tomatoes. At the same time, Spanish exporters benefit from the reorientation of Turkish and Moroccan suppliers from the European to the Russian market. According to the local manufacturer, the market is looking forward to a good year with high prices. Farmers are planting more plum tomatoes with high yields, long shelf life and good taste.

USA

According to the American trader, there is currently a large volume of products on the market. The market is dominated by domestic production from Florida and Texas and imports from Mexico. The demand is stable. Prices are under pressure from Mexico's supply.

Russia

In Russia, the cultivation of greenhouse vegetables is growing steadily. Last year, about 150 hectares of high-tech greenhouses were launched, and the same figure is expected next year.

central Asia

Although the cultivation of horticultural products in Central Asian countries is still underdeveloped, significant investments are starting to flow in the construction of greenhouse complexes. In particular, investors are actively investing in greenhouse projects in Georgia and Kazakhstan. These greenhouses are mainly used for growing tomatoes and cucumbers.

 

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