According to figures published by the National Agricultural Marketing Council in 2023, global tomato production exceeded 180 million tons, with China dominating output at more than 70 million tons. India, Türkiye and the US follow as major producers, reflecting the tomato’s importance as both a fresh-market product and a processed ingredient.
Globally, tomatoes are traded through two distinct streams. Fresh tomatoes are highly perishable and sensitive to handling and logistics, while processed products such as paste, canned tomatoes and sauces are more stable and export-friendly. Countries such as Italy and Spain have built strong export positions in processed tomatoes, while Mexico is a key supplier of fresh tomatoes into the US market. Across both segments, supply-chain efficiency and cold chain integrity increasingly determine market access, quality and pricing outcomes.
For fresh tomatoes, temperature management is critical. Optimal storage and transport temperatures range between 12°C and 15°C. Exposure to colder conditions can cause chilling injury, while higher temperatures accelerate ripening and decay. As trade distances increase and retailers demand year-round availability, producers and traders are under pressure to invest in refrigerated transport, rapid post-harvest cooling and continuous temperature monitoring to protect returns.
South Africa mirrors many of these global dynamics, albeit on a smaller scale. The country produced just under 528 000t of tomatoes in 2023, rebounding after a weaker 2022 season. Over the past five years, production has averaged around 540 000t, although year-to-year fluctuations highlight the sector’s exposure to weather variability, water availability and rising input costs.
Tomatoes account for about 24% of South Africa’s total vegetable production, second only to potatoes. The industry employs between 25 000 and 28 000 people annually, with employment peaking during the summer months. South Africa is also one of the few countries able to produce tomatoes throughout the year, helping stabilise domestic supply but not insulating producers from price volatility.
Production is highly concentrated in Limpopo, which contributes more than 60% of national output. Large commercial producers dominate the sector, led by ZZ2, South Africa’s largest tomato grower. ZZ2 plants between 2 000ha and 2 500ha annually and is estimated to contribute more than 30% of total national production, enabling investment in irrigation, cold chain infrastructure and logistics.
“Maintaining quality after harvest is just as important as how the crop is produced,” a ZZ2 spokesperson said. “Once tomatoes leave the field, temperature control, packaging and transport conditions determine whether they arrive at market in a premium condition or suffer losses that affect shelf life and price.”
Despite strong production systems, post-harvest handling remains one of the biggest risks to producer returns. Research conducted by the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s (UKZN) Post Harvest Innovation Centre, funded by the Department of Science and Technology, found that transport on South Africa’s rural road network is the single largest contributor to tomato damage. Poor road conditions lead to bruising, structural damage and prolonged exposure to non-optimal temperatures.
These losses are felt directly at market level. RSA Group CEO Jaco Oosthuizen said tomatoes arriving at fresh produce markets with bruising or uneven ripeness are quickly downgraded.
“In weeks of high supply, even small quality defects can translate into significant price pressure for producers,” he said.
The UKZN study, which tracked tomatoes from Limpopo packhouses to the Pietermaritzburg Fresh Produce Market, found that tomatoes transported in large bins ripened faster and suffered more damage than those moved in cartons. The research showed that relatively simple interventions can improve outcomes, including harvesting at the correct maturity, using smaller bins or lugs, appropriate refrigeration and better driving practices to reduce impact bruising.
As global tomato trade becomes more sophisticated, the link between production practices, logistics and pricing continues to tighten. For South African producers, competitiveness will depend not only on scale and yields, but on how effectively tomatoes are moved from farm to market while preserving quality and value.
