Tomatoes production in South Africa
In 2024 South Africa produced 509,625 t of tomatoes, the 44th largest in the world (0.27% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 0.7%. The record was 672,176 t in 2017. Area harvested: 7,804 ha, yield 65.3 t/ha.
- Production, 2024
- 509,625 t
- World rank
- 44 of 166
- 10-year change
- −0.7%
- Record
- 672,176 t
- 2017
Tomatoes in South Africa, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
South Africa compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.27%
- 0.29% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 65.3
- world 36.8 (+77%)
- kg per person
- 7.96
- world 23.1
- 10-year change
- −0.7%
- world +7.2%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 42 | Canada | 548,107 | 0.29% |
| 43 | Kenya | 510,902 | 0.27% |
| 44 | South Africa | 509,625 | 0.27% |
| 45 | Bangladesh | 491,488 | 0.26% |
| 46 | Iraq | 463,214 | 0.25% |
Map of world production of tomatoes
Share of the world total; South Africa is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 509,625 | −4.3% | 7,804 | 65.30 |
| 2023 | 532,275 | +13% | 8,131 | 65.46 |
| 2022 | 471,681 | −11% | 7,188 | 65.62 |
| 2021 | 530,843 | −11% | 7,977 | 66.55 |
| 2020 | 599,306 | +2.5% | 9,346 | 64.12 |
| 2019 | 584,452 | +8.8% | 9,065 | 64.47 |
| 2018 | 537,257 | −20% | 8,199 | 65.53 |
| 2017 | 672,176 | +6.7% | 10,052 | 66.87 |
| 2016 | 629,974 | +13% | 9,201 | 68.47 |
| 2015 | 558,018 | +8.7% | 7,894 | 70.69 |
| 2014 | 513,376 | −5.9% | 6,997 | 73.37 |
| 2013 | 545,842 | −3.3% | 7,431 | 73.45 |
| 2012 | 564,740 | +10% | 7,755 | 72.82 |
| 2011 | 511,526 | −7.7% | 6,853 | 74.64 |
| 2010 | 554,108 | +3.9% | 7,958 | 69.63 |
| 2009 | 533,165 | −1.4% | 7,700 | 69.24 |
| 2008 | 540,470 | +10% | 7,800 | 69.29 |
| 2007 | 491,220 | −2.7% | 7,100 | 69.19 |
| 2006 | 504,840 | −1.4% | 6,400 | 78.88 |
| 2005 | 512,119 | +6.0% | 6,475 | 79.09 |
| 2004 | 483,095 | +11% | 6,405 | 75.42 |
| 2003 | 436,411 | −3.1% | 5,660 | 77.10 |
| 2002 | 450,396 | +1.3% | 5,861 | 76.85 |
| 2001 | 444,822 | +13% | 9,000 | 49.42 |
| 2000 | 392,914 | −8.8% | 11,000 | 35.72 |
| 1999 | 430,847 | +2.3% | 13,500 | 31.91 |
| 1998 | 421,175 | −5.3% | 12,596 | 33.44 |
| 1997 | 444,838 | −1.5% | 13,000 | 34.22 |
| 1996 | 451,622 | +3.7% | 13,500 | 33.45 |
| 1995 | 435,360 | +13% | 13,000 | 33.49 |
| 1994 | 385,859 | −7.3% | 13,000 | 29.68 |
| 1993 | 416,202 | −1.0% | 14,243 | 29.22 |
| 1992 | 420,499 | −9.1% | 14,500 | 29.00 |
| 1991 | 462,498 | +13% | 16,527 | 27.98 |
| 1990 | 407,904 | −17% | 15,000 | 27.19 |
| 1989 | 490,456 | +26% | 15,500 | 31.64 |
| 1988 | 390,166 | −10% | 14,000 | 27.87 |
| 1987 | 434,307 | +8.8% | 14,500 | 29.95 |
| 1986 | 399,000 | −2.9% | 14,000 | 28.50 |
| 1985 | 411,000 | +13% | 14,000 | 29.36 |
| 1984 | 365,000 | +0.8% | 14,000 | 26.07 |
| 1983 | 362,000 | −8.8% | 14,000 | 25.86 |
| 1982 | 397,000 | +3.4% | 14,000 | 28.36 |
| 1981 | 384,000 | +24% | 14,000 | 27.43 |
| 1980 | 310,000 | +12% | 11,000 | 28.18 |
| 1979 | 276,000 | −5.8% | 11,000 | 25.09 |
| 1978 | 293,000 | +8.5% | 11,000 | 26.64 |
| 1977 | 270,000 | −19% | 11,000 | 24.55 |
| 1976 | 335,000 | +1.5% | 12,000 | 27.92 |
| 1975 | 330,000 | +25% | 12,000 | 27.50 |
| 1974 | 264,000 | +10% | 10,000 | 26.40 |
| 1973 | 240,000 | −12% | 10,000 | 24.00 |
| 1972 | 272,000 | +27% | 10,000 | 27.20 |
| 1971 | 214,000 | −3.2% | 8,000 | 26.75 |
| 1970 | 221,000 | −7.5% | 7,500 | 29.47 |
| 1969 | 239,000 | +17% | 7,500 | 31.87 |
| 1968 | 204,000 | −15% | 7,500 | 27.20 |
| 1967 | 241,000 | +24% | 7,000 | 34.43 |
| 1966 | 195,000 | −10% | 7,000 | 27.86 |
| 1965 | 217,000 | +3.3% | 7,000 | 31.00 |
| 1964 | 210,000 | +35% | 7,000 | 30.00 |
| 1963 | 156,000 | +1.3% | 7,000 | 22.29 |
| 1962 | 154,000 | −17% | 7,000 | 22.00 |
| 1961 | 185,000 | — | 7,000 | 26.43 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 19,365 t USD 5.1 m
- Exporter rank
- 36 of 122
- Imports
- 16,414 t USD 7.6 m
- Importer rank
- 56 of 163
FAOSTAT detailed trade data, release of 23 July 2026; quantities in tonnes, values in current US dollars; exports include re-exports. World exporters and importers
Questions and answers
What is the production of tomatoes in South Africa?
South Africa produced 509,625 t in 2024, 0.27% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does South Africa rank in the world for production of tomatoes?
South Africa ranked 44th of 166 countries in 2024. The largest producer was China with 32.7% of the world total.
How has the production of tomatoes in South Africa changed?
It fell by 0.7% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +7.2% for the world. The record was 672,176 t in 2017.
What is the yield of tomatoes in South Africa?
65.3 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (509,625 t from 7,804 ha), against a world average of 36.8 t/ha.
Does South Africa export or import tomatoes?
In 2024 South Africa reported exports of 19,365 t (USD 5.1 m) and imports of 16,414 t (USD 7.6 m), according to FAOSTAT trade data.
Where does this data come from?
From FAOSTAT, the statistics database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Shares, ranks and per-person figures are calculated by Husfarm.
Other large producers
Source: FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 4 November 2026. fao.org/faostat. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Charts, rankings and changes calculated by Husfarm.