""""

Required Report - public distribution

**Date:** 12/29/2003

**GAIN Report Number:** FR3075

FR3075

**France**

**Tomatoes and Products**

**Semi-Annual**

**2003**

**Approved by:**

![](media/image1.wmf)Kurt Seifarth

U.S. Embassy

**Prepared by:**

Marie-Cécile Hénard

**Report Highlights:**

In 2003, preliminary estimates indicate that France's total tomato
production amounted to

892,545 MT, a 10% increase from the abnormally low production level of
2002. French tomato production included 68% for the fresh market and 32%
for the processing industry. Deliveries of fresh tomatoes to the
processing industry, which had significantly declined in 2002, recovered
in 2003 and were close to 2001 levels. However, they remained well below
the EU maximum production quota authorized, because of the low
profitability of such production in France. France remained a net
importer of fresh, canned tomatoes and tomato paste in MY 2002/03. There
is no trade between the United States and France.

Includes PSD Changes: No

Includes Trade Matrix: No

Semi-Annual Report

Paris \[FR1\]

\[FR\]

Table of Contents

[Executive Summary 3](#executive-summary)

[Section I: Situation and Outlook 3](#section-i-situation-and-outlook)

[Section II: Statistical Tables 5](#section-ii-statistical-tables)

# Executive Summary

In 2003, preliminary estimates indicate that France's total tomato
production amounted to

892,545 MT, a 10% increase from the abnormally low production level of
2002. French tomato production included 68% for the fresh market and 32%
for the processing industry. Deliveries of fresh tomatoes to the
processing industry, which had significantly declined in 2002, recovered
in 2003 and were close to 2001 levels. However, they remained well below
the EU maximum production quota authorized, because of the low
profitability of such production in France. France remained a net
importer of fresh, canned tomatoes and tomato paste in MY 2002/03. There
is no trade between the United States and France.

# Section I: Situation and Outlook

###### Tomatoes for the Fresh Market

According to the French Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and
Rural Affairs, French production of fresh tomatoes in 2001, 2002 and
2003 is as follows:

  -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- --------------
                                2001           2002           2003

  Area Planted   Greenhouses    2,135          2,158          2,057
  (ha)                                                        

                 Open Fields    1,293          873            770

                 Total Area     3,428          3,031          2,827

  Production     Greenhouses    506,321        512,823        562,856
  (MT)                                                        

                 Open Fields    62,166         46,464         39,689

                 Total          568,487        559,287        602,545
                 Production                                   

  Yields (MT/ha) Greenhouses    237            238            274

                 Open Fields    48             53             52
  -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- --------------

France's largest fresh tomato producing companies are Saveol, with
68,500 MT annual production
([http://www.saveol.com](http://www.saveol.com/)), Rougeline (50,000 MT,
[http://www.rougeline.com](http://www.rougeline.com/)), Sica St Pol de
Leon (45,000 MT), Odelis (25,000 MT), Alliance Saveur Soleil (20,000
MT), Polenium (20,000 MT), and Solarenn (18,000 MT).

In early October 2003, the European Union and Morocco reached an
agreement which is expected to guarantee greater European market access
for Moroccan tomatoes and a liberalization of the Moroccan market for EU
grains. According to the agreement, Morocco is now authorized to export
up to 175,000 MT of fresh tomatoes to the EU (up from 168,757 MT under
the previous agreement) from October to May. An additional quota of
45,000 MT (15, 000 MT in 2003 and 10,000 MT in 2004, 2005 and 2006) is
also included in the agreement for Moroccan tomatoes exported to the EU
from November to May.

French tomato growers were very critical of this trade agreement. The
French Federation of fruits and vegetable producers (FNPL) reacted
saying that they "don't accept being sacrificed for EU and French
political concerns, and questionable commercial interests."

###### Tomatoes for Processing 

In Europe, France is a minor producer of processed tomato products. The
quota for France set by the EU under the Common Market Organization
(CMO) for fruits and vegetables is 400,000 MT of fresh tomatoes.

Prices are set by the producer organizations (POs) and the processors.
Only tomatoes delivered by POs, corresponding to set quality standards,
are subsidized by the EU. These subsidies go to POs, which distribute
the funds to their members. In France, there are 10 POs and producer
groups of tomatoes for processing, and 470 farmers are producing
tomatoes for the processing industry. They deliver their production to
25 processing plants. While France's production of fresh tomatoes for
the processing industry was traditionally located in southeastern France
(Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur and Rhone-Alpes), these regions now total
only 45% of the production, and southwestern France (Aquitaine and
Languedoc-Roussillon) now total 54% of French tomato production for
processing.

Deliveries of fresh tomatoes to processors amounted to the following in
2001, 2002, and 2003 (in MT):

  -------------------------- -------------- --------------- ---------------
                             2001           2002            2003

  Tomato Paste               247,400        186,500         230,000

  Canned Whole Peeled        8,600          9,700           9,000
  Tomatoes                                                  

  Other Tomato Products      52,800         51,700          51,000

  Total                      308,800        247,900         290,000
  -------------------------- -------------- --------------- ---------------

French tomato production for processing was abnormally low in 2002, due
to adverse weather conditions (mainly heavy rains). Despite the increase
in 2003, French production of fresh tomatoes for the processing industry
remains well below the EU quota of 400,000 MT. This results from the
relatively low profitability of this production compared to others:
contract prices are not attractive for growers (76 to 83 euros per MT),
processing plants are often far from the farms growing tomatoes, and
processors are perceived as reluctant to make investments.

Information on the world market for processed tomatoes can be found on
the internet website: [http://www.tomate.org](http://www.tomate.org/).
It includes information in English and French on world production,
regional organizations for processed tomatoes, and companies processing
tomatoes.

Also, France is a member of the Mediterranean Association of Tomato
Growers (AMITOM). Their website is:
[http://www.amitom.com](http://www.amitom.com/). It is both in English
and French, and describes the processed tomato sectors of each member
country of AMITOM (EU and North African countries). It also has press
releases with the status of the current production year in each member
country. In 2002, French tomato production for processing accounted for
2% of the total AMITOM production.

# Section II: Statistical Tables

*PS&Ds*

  --------------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------
  **PSD Table**                                                                       

  **Country**     **France**                                                          

  **Commodity**   **Fresh                                       (HA)(MT)              
                  Tomatoes**                                                          

                  2001         Revised    2002       Estimate   2003       Forecast   UOM

                  USDA         Post       USDA       Post       USDA       Post       
                  Official     Estimate   Official   Estimate   Official   Estimate   
                  \[Old\]      \[New\]    \[Old\]    \[New\]    \[Old\]    \[New\]    

  **Market Year                01/2001               01/2002               01/2003    MM/YYYY
  Begin**                                                                             

  Plnt For Fresh  3428         3428       3030       3031       0          3030       (HA)
  Consump                                                                             

  Plnt For        3662         3662       3600       3457       0          3400       (HA)
  Processing                                                                          

  TOTAL Area      7090         7090       6630       6488       0          6430       (HA)
  Planted                                                                             

  Harv. For Fresh 3428         3428       3030       3031       0          3030       (HA)
  Cons.                                                                               

  Harv. For       3662         3662       3600       3457       0          3400       (HA)
  Processing                                                                          

  TOTAL Area      7090         7090       6630       6488       0          6430       (HA)
  Harvested                                                                           

  Fresh Sale      568487       568487     561106     559287     0          602545     (MT)
  Production                                                                          

  Processing      308790       308790     245680     247900     0          290000     (MT)
  Production                                                                          

  TOTAL           877277       877277     806786     807187     0          892545     (MT)
  Production                                                                          

  TOTAL SUPPLY    877277       877277     806786     807187     0          892545     (MT)
  --------------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------

Sources: French MinAg, French tomato processors

  --------------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ------------
  **PSD Table**                                                                       

  **Country**     **France**                                                          

  **Commodity**   **Canned                                      (MT)(MT,              
                  Tomatoes**                                    Net                   
                                                                Weight)               

                  2001         Revised    2002       Estimate   2003       Forecast   UOM

                  USDA         Post       USDA       Post       USDA       Post       
                  Official     Estimate   Official   Estimate   Official   Estimate   
                  \[Old\]      \[New\]    \[Old\]    \[New\]    \[Old\]    \[New\]    

  **Market Year                08/2001               08/2002               08/2003    MM/YYYY
  Begin**                                                                             

  Deliv. To       8600         8600       9700       9700       11000      9000       (MT)
  Processors                                                                          

  Beginning       8924         8924       8301       8289       7501       4433       (MT, Net
  Stocks                                                                              Weight)

  Production      5900         5900       6700       6700       7500       6200       (MT, Net
                                                                                      Weight)

  Imports         99551        99537      98500      95150      98000      98000      (MT, Net
                                                                                      Weight)

  TOTAL SUPPLY    114375       114361     113501     110139     113001     108633     (MT, Net
                                                                                      Weight)

  Exports         6074         6072       6000       5706       6000       5500       (MT, Net
                                                                                      Weight)

  Domestic        100000       100000     100000     100000     100000     99000      (MT, Net
  Consumption                                                                         Weight)

  Ending Stocks   8301         8289       7501       4433       7001       4133       (MT, Net
                                                                                      Weight)

  TOTAL           114375       114361     113501     110139     113001     108633     (MT, Net
  DISTRIBUTION                                                                        Weight)
  --------------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ------------

  --------------- -------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ------------
  **PSD Table**                                                                         

  **Country**     **France**                                                            

  **Commodity**   **Tom.                                          (MT)(MT,              
                  Paste,28-30%                                    Net                   
                  TSS Basis**                                     Weight)               

                  2001           Revised    2002       Estimate   2003       Forecast   UOM

                  USDA Official  Post       USDA       Post       USDA       Post       
                  \[Old\]        Estimate   Official   Estimate   Official   Estimate   
                                 \[New\]    \[Old\]    \[New\]    \[Old\]    \[New\]    

  **Market Year                  08/2001               08/2002               08/2003    MM/YYYY
  Begin**                                                                               

  Deliv. To       247400         247400     186500     186500     150000     230000     (MT)
  Processors                                                                            

  Beginning       48139          48139      50975      50171      48075      44525      (MT, Net
  Stocks                                                                                Weight)

  Production      43000          42200      31100      31100      25500      39000      (MT, Net
                                                                                        Weight)

  Imports         43781          43773      50000      49038      50000      44000      (MT, Net
                                                                                        Weight)

  TOTAL SUPPLY    134920         134112     132075     130309     123575     127525     (MT, Net
                                                                                        Weight)

  Exports         3945           3941       4000       5784       4000       5000       (MT, Net
                                                                                        Weight)

  Domestic        80000          80000      80000      80000      80000      80000      (MT, Net
  Consumption                                                                           Weight)

  Ending Stocks   50975          50171      48075      44525      39575      42525      (MT, Net
                                                                                        Weight)

  TOTAL           134920         134112     132075     130309     123575     127525     (MT, Net
  DISTRIBUTION                                                                          Weight)
  --------------- -------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ------------

Sources: French tomato processors, Eurostat

*Trade Matrices*

Fresh Tomatoes (source: Eurostat)

  -------------------- ------------------- ------------------ ------------
  **Export Trade                                              
  Matrix**                                                    

  **Country**          France                                 

  **Commodity**        Fresh Tomatoes                         

  Time Period          Aug/July            Units:             MT

  Exports for:         2001                                   **2002**

  U.S.                 0                   U.S.               0

  Others                                   Others             

  Germany              50402               Germany            31980

  UK                   17653               Belgium            13111

  Belgium              11223               Italy              9293

  Czech Rep.           7650                Switzerland        8426

  Switzerland          6394                Czech Rep.         7801

  Russia               5051                UK                 4472

  Italy                4874                Russia             4177

  Netherlands          4251                Spain              4074

  Spain                3621                Netherlands        3301

  Austria              2085                Slovakia           1573

  Total for Others     113204                                 88208

  Others not Listed    9520                                   6704

  Grand Total          122724                                 94912
  -------------------- ------------------- ------------------ ------------

  -------------------- ------------------- ------------------ ------------
  **Import Trade                                              
  Matrix**                                                    

  **Country**          France                                 

  **Commodity**        Fresh Tomatoes                         

  Time Period          Aug/July            Units:             MT

  Imports for:         2001                                   **2002**

  U.S.                 2                   U.S.               4

  Others                                   Others             

  Morocco              164649              Spain              166854

  Spain                145434              Morocco            154718

  Belgium              27959               Belgium            43159

  Netherlands          19596               Netherlands        22568

  Italy                8823                Germany            5804

  Germany              5032                Italy              5607

  Israel               3617                Israel             4731

  Turkey               1874                Turkey             2768

  Tunisia              1758                Tunisia            1913

  Senegal              989                 Senegal            868

  Total for Others     379731                                 408990

  Others not Listed    662                                    1552

  Grand Total          380395                                 410546
  -------------------- ------------------- ------------------ ------------

Canned Tomatoes (Source: Eurostat)

  ------------------- --------------------- ----------------- ------------
  **Export Trade                                              
  Matrix**                                                    

  **Country**         France                                  

  **Commodity**       Canned Tomatoes                         

  Time Period         Aug/July              Units:            MT

  Exports for:        2001                                    **2002**

  U.S.                0                     U.S.              0

  Others                                    Others            

  Belgium             2868                  Belgium           2877

  UK                  861                   UK                721

  Luxemburg           496                   Italy             689

                                                               

                                                               

                                                               

                                                               

                                                               

                                                               

                                                               

  Total for Others    4225                                    4287

  Others not Listed   1847                                    1419

  Grand Total         6072                                    5706
  ------------------- --------------------- ----------------- ------------

  ------------------- --------------------- ----------------- ------------
  **Import Trade                                              
  Matrix**                                                    

  **Country**         France                                  

  **Commodity**       Canned Tomatoes                         

  Time Period         Aug/July              Units:            MT

  Imports for:        2001                                    **2002**

  U.S.                0                     U.S.              0

  Others                                    Others            

  Italy               60247                 Italy             54207

  Spain               27929                 Spain             29920

  Netherlands         5048                  Netherlands       4889

  Germany             2335                  Germany           1757

  Portugal            1450                  Belgium           1662

  Luxemburg           892                   Luxemburg         969

  Greece              710                   Greece            719

  Belgium             532                   Turkey            370

  UK                  138                   Portugal          339

  Turkey              115                   UK                259

  Total for Others    99396                                   95091

  Others not Listed   141                                     59

  Grand Total         99537                                   95150
  ------------------- --------------------- ----------------- ------------

Tomato paste (Source: Eurostat)

  ------------------ -------------------------- --------------- -----------
  **Export Trade                                                
  Matrix**                                                      

  **Country**        France                                     

  **Commodity**      Tom. Paste,28-30% TSS                      
                     Basis                                      

  Time Period        Aug/July                   Units:          MT

  Exports for:       2001                                       **2002**

  U.S.               5                          U.S.            0

  Others                                        Others          

  Belgium            1610                       Italy           2442

  Algeria            678                        Belgium         1792

  Germany            542                        Germany         432

  Hungary            460                        Hungary         371

  Luxemburg          144                        UK              107

  Portugal           101                        Netherlands     82

                                                                 

                                                                 

                                                                 

                                                                 

  Total for Others   3535                                       5226

  Others not Listed  401                                        558

  Grand Total        3941                                       5784
  ------------------ -------------------------- --------------- -----------

  ------------------ -------------------------- --------------- -----------
  **Import Trade                                                
  Matrix**                                                      

  **Country**        France                                     

  **Commodity**      Tom. Paste,28-30% TSS                      
                     Basis                                      

  Time Period        Aug/July                   Units:          MT

  Imports for:       2001                                       **2002**

  U.S.               0                          U.S.            0

  Others                                        Others          

  Italy              21930                      Spain           20407

  Spain              13404                      Italy           16936

  Portugal           3800                       Portugal        4571

  Netherlands        3117                       Netherlands     4228

  Belgium            538                        China           1249

  Germany            414                        Belgium         374

  Greece             332                        Turkey          371

  Turkey             178                        Tunisia         304

                                                Germany         265

                                                Greece          217

  Total for Others   43713                                      48922

  Others not Listed  60                                         116

  Grand Total        43773                                      49038
  ------------------ -------------------------- --------------- -----------