Market research

Tomato market in SADC

Release date: Mar 27, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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"SADC" region includes following countries:

Angola

Botswana

Comoros

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Eswatini

Lesotho

Madagascar

Malawi

Mauritius

Mozambique

Namibia

Seychelles

South Africa

Tanzania

Zambia

Zimbabwe

Earlier Report Observations

The market for fresh or chilled tomatoes in SADC grew from 3.4 million tons in 2018 to a peak of 4.4 million tons in 2022. This expansion was supported by the development and adoption of new tomato cultivars resistant to diseases like bacterial wilt, which improved production sustainability and output. National Fresh Produce Markets remained the dominant distribution channel, facilitating market access for growers.

After reaching its highest point, the market volume contracted to 4.1 million tons in 2023. This decline was primarily caused by unfavorable weather conditions that significantly reduced tomato harvests. Concurrently, the Competition Commission launched a Fresh Produce Market Inquiry that year, investigating barriers to competition and high market concentration, which highlighted structural challenges within the supply chain.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in SADC
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in SADC in kind, 2018-2023, K t
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Angola in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Angola by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Angola in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Angola by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Angola, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Angola by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Angola in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Angola by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Angola in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Angola by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Angola, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Angola by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Angola in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Angola by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Angola in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Angola by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Angola, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Angola by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Angola in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Angola by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Angola in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Angola by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Angola, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Angola by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production tomato in SADC

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of tomato, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of tomato, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Tomato production in SADC has grown for the third year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 4 327 thousand tonnes of tomatoes, marking a 15.7% increase from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production rose by 30.4%, with an average annual growth rate of 9.3%.

Annual dynamics of production in SADC in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	2.1%	10.3%	15.7%	9.3%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports tomato from SADC

Exports in kind, t

Tomato exports from SADC showed significant volatility during this period. The lowest point was in 2018, with 2 192 tonnes exported, while the peak occurred in 2019 at 10 317 tonnes—a 4.7-fold difference. In 2020, exports dropped sharply to 2 285 tonnes, down 77.8% from 2019. The largest year-on-year increase was recorded in 2019, at 370.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from SADC in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(77.7%)	370.6%	(77.8%)	(38.5%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Kenya and Special Categories were the main destinations for SADC's tomato exports in volume terms, together accounting for 5.9% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from SADC in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Tomato exports from SADC in value terms declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, exports amounted to 9 595 thousand US dollars, a slight decrease of 1.0% compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, export value fell by 7.8%, with an average annual decline of 2.7%. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 11 654 thousand US dollars. The largest year-on-year increase occurred in 2018 at 12.0%, while the biggest drop was in 2019 at 16.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from SADC in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	12.0%	(16.8%)	(1.0%)	(2.7%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, Kenya and Special Categories were the two primary destinations for SADC's tomato exports in value terms. Kenya accounted for 0.8% of total export flows, and Special Categories for 0.7%, together making up 1.5% of the total.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from SADC in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports tomato to SADC

Imports in kind, t

After two years of decline, tomato imports into SADC rebounded in 2020. Import volume reached 8 972 tonnes, up 23.3% from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports increased by 4.6%, with an average annual growth rate of 1.5%. The lowest import volume was in 2019 at 7 276 tonnes, and the largest year-on-year decrease was in 2018 at 11.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to SADC in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(11.2%)	(4.5%)	23.3%	1.5%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the main suppliers of tomatoes to SADC in volume terms were Special Categories, Turkey, and China. Special Categories accounted for 2.6% of imports, Turkey for 1.7%, and China for 1.3%, together representing 5.6% of total import volume.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to SADC in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

Tomato imports into SADC in value terms fell for the second year in a row. In 2020, imports totaled 11 078 thousand US dollars, a modest decline of 1.3% from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, import value decreased by 2.8%, with an average annual drop of 0.9%. The peak value was in 2018 at 12 620 thousand US dollars. The largest year-on-year increase was in 2018 at 10.8%, while the biggest decrease was in 2019 at 11.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to SADC in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	10.8%	(11.1%)	(1.3%)	(0.9%)

Source: SHEV.io

During 2017-2020, Turkey, Special Categories, and China were key suppliers of tomatoes to SADC in value terms. Turkey accounted for 6.2% of import value, Special Categories for 1.5%, and China for 1.1%. However, their combined share was only 8.8% of total import value, with the remaining 91.2% spread across numerous other trading partners.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to SADC in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io