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TOMATO INDUSTRY NEWS
JUNE 2003
2002 GLOBAL PROCESSING OUTCOMES
As reported by "Tomato News", 2002 production was up 15.3% on the previous year. However, as 2001 production was kept low in order to rid the globe of excess inventories, the production lift in 2002 was appropriate.
The global market is not homogenous as trade barriers and packaging and specification differences constrain trade between the USA and Europe. Following the 2002 season, California was overstocked and Europe was short, even after the acquiring of all uncommitted Chinese stock.
2003 PROCESSING FORECASTS
2003 processing forecasts are still fluid but at the time of writing appear to add up to 28.8 million tonnes, an increase of about 1.7 million tonnes or 6.3% compared with 2002.
About 0.5 million tonnes of this might be required to satisfy market growth if past trends continue.
After allowing for market growth, current 2003 production estimates are likely to be more than sufficient to redress European stock shortages.
Some reports of difficult seasonal conditions being experienced in China, Turkey and other countries may result in 2003 production being less than currently anticipated.
2003 AUSTRALIAN CROP
We now know the results of the Australian season. Processing totalled 260,000 tonnes, 30% down on last year.
The problem was water, or rather the lack of it. Growers had to work with around half of their usual irrigation water entitlement and because the soil was so dry, much of the entitlement had to be used to wet up the soil prior to planting.
At least the tomato solids were higher. The average of 5.06% is a good number. The improvement on last year is the equivalent of having grown an additional 12,000 tonnes of tomatoes.
PROCESSED TOMATO CONSUMPTION IN AUSTRALIA
We now know the results of the Australian season. Processing totalled 260,000 tonnes, 30% down on last year.
Australian per capita consumption of tomato products is estimated to be around 24 kg per capita, which is a high number compared with most countries apart from USA and Italy. Australians consume processed tomatoes across the full spectrum of products.
On a raw tomato equivalent basis, home use might be as shown in the table.
Food service consumption is nearly as important as retail. However, statistics for food service are very difficult to obtain.
- Australians tend to use tomato sauce and ketchup on sausages and meat pies but rarely on French fries.
- Tomato juice volume is small compared with some countries, having declined as orange and other fruit juices have become more readily available.
- Per-capita consumption of baked beans and canned spaghetti is high compared with most countries other than the United Kingdom.
- Canned tomato soup is popular, at one time being equivalent in volume to all other soup varieties put together. In recent years, tomato soup has lost market share to new varieties such as pumpkin.
- Sauces and semi-dried tomatoes are the current growth items.
WHAT ABOUT CHINA?
It is generally accepted that China processed about 2.3 million tonnes of tomatoes in 2002 and is thought to be aiming to install around 15 new lines this year, each capable, on average, of processing about 1,500 tonnes per day. This would potentially add up to an additional 1.1 million tonnes of processing!
However, even after the Lisbon forum, it is not known whether all of these lines are going ahead, how many will be ready for 2003 season, whether the Chinese have enough skilled people to start them all up and whether tomato supply can be increased to this extent in one year. There have also been reports that planting did not get off to a good start. We are currently figuring on 3.0 million tonnes of processing for China in 2003.
NEXT WORLD CONFERENCE
 The next conference to be held under the aegis of the World Processing Tomato Council is to be held in Australia in November 2004. The theme for the conference is "Reaching for New Horizons".
Entapack congratulates the Australian industry, the grower group in particular, for taking on the challenge to host this event. Entapack looks forward to helping welcome the visitors to our shores.
For further information contact Louis Chirnside of the Australian Processing Tomato Growers Group at louis@worldtomatocongress.com.au.
ENTAPACK EXPORTS
Thanks to orders from California, Entapack export shipments of barrier packaging to all destinations now exceed domestic sales. We get good feedback for both our quality and service.
The strengthening Australian Dollar is making it difficult to sustain current price levels. We are constantly trying to reduce costs to ensure our long-term competitiveness and we have invested in a new 300 US gallon bag making machine to improve manufacturing productivity and capacity.
We design our own machinery; it is the only way to get exactly what we want.
3" FRANRICA FITMENT
Our 3" FranRica style barrier bag fitment has now been approved for commercial application and is being supplied to two customers this year.
We design and make all of our own fitments.
We have the ability to Co-mould fitments that incorporate two different types of plastic. This means we can supply one-piece fitments to replace older designs that require loose sealing rings.
Since the last newsletter another extruder has been added to our facility simular to the one shown above which is used to Co-mould our Dur-O-gland. This addition was required to enable us to maintain our service levels.
Our injection moulding capacity is located in a positive pressured environment that is as at least as sanitary as any food factory that is likely to use our products.
HIGH PERFORMANCE BAG FOR ASEPTIC DICE
A high performance bag has been developed for 300 US gallon aseptic dice packs that can be used without dunnage. While the bag is more expensive, the saving from omitting dunnage is substantial.
The bag is being trialed commercially in California this northern season after successful trials of the 200-litre version in Australia.
Best regards, Vincent
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