Business · Energy & Commodities · 10 hrs ago
Italy's tomato processing output rises as energy costs more than double
Italy processed 6.3 million tonnes of tomatoes in 2026, more than the year before.
That makes Italy the world's second-largest producer, behind the United States and ahead of China.
The crop was processed in two regions: 3.2 million tonnes in the North and 3.1 million in the Centre-South.
Processing companies faced gas costs up 103% and electricity costs up 78% compared with 2025, adding pressure to their expenses.
In the North, heat, drought, hail and limited water reduced farm yields to their lowest level in five years.
In the Centre-South, the long processing season meant some plants could not run at full capacity, weakening savings from large-scale production.
The industry says companies must plan the 2027 season carefully, taking account of higher output over the past two years.
Italy processed 6.3 million tonnes of industrial tomatoes in 2026, up from the previous year.
The output makes Italy the world’s second-largest tomato processor, after the United States and ahead of China.
The average campaign gas price more than doubled from 2025, rising 103%, while electricity costs rose 78%.
Production totaled 3.1 million tonnes in the Centre-South basin and 3.2 million tonnes in the North basin.
Adverse weather and limited water availability affected agricultural yields in the North, while a long season raised costs in the Centre-South.
- Who
- Italy’s tomato processing industry, including processing companies represented by Anicav.
- What
- Italy processed 6.3 million tonnes of industrial tomatoes in 2026, while energy costs rose sharply.
- When
- The 2026 processing campaign; the gas price comparison is with 2025.
- Where
- Italy, across the Centre-South and North production basins.
- Why
- Production increased amid expanded cultivated areas, while costs were pressured by higher energy prices; adverse weather and limited water affected yields in the North.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Italy’s industrial tomato processing campaign closed with total production of 6.3 million tonnes.
The average campaign gas price was 103% higher than in 2025, and electricity prices rose 78%.
The Centre-South campaign, which began early, continued until the end of October.
- Total production
- 6.3 million tonnes
- Cultivated area
- 86,382 hectares
- Gas price change
- Up 103% from 2025
- Electricity price change
- Up 78%
- Centre-South output
- 3.1 million tonnes
- North output
- 3.2 million tonnes
1 source
What people are saying
Gli incrementi dei costi energetici e un prezzo del pomodoro che continua a essere il più alto al mondo, hanno messo a dura prova le aziende di trasformazione.