Classification
Product TypeProcessed Food
Product FormCanned / Preserved (Shelf-stable)
Industry PositionValue-Added Processed Vegetable Product
Market
Peeled tomato in Egypt sits within HS 200210 (preserved tomatoes: whole or in pieces) and is supplied through both domestic processing and imports. UN Comtrade data via WITS shows Egypt imported about USD 0.70 million of HS 200210 in 2024, while exporting about USD 1.53 million in the same year, indicating two-way trade with episodic net-exporter positioning. Import supply has been heavily linked to Europe/Italy in recent data (e.g., 2023), while Egypt’s 2024 exports were directed mainly to North America (notably the United States and Canada). Domestic availability is supported by multi-season tomato production cycles and industrial processors sourcing across multiple Egyptian growing areas, enabling extended processing windows.
Market RoleTwo-way trade market (domestic processing plus imports); small-scale exporter in HS 200210 with year-to-year variability
Domestic RoleShelf-stable cooking ingredient consumed in households and foodservice; complemented by imported brands and locally produced items
SeasonalityEgyptian tomato supply is multi-season, supporting near year-round processing of preserved tomato products, with notable fresh-tomato peaks tied to winter (Jan–Mar) and summer (Jun–Aug) production cycles.
Specification
Physical Attributes- Whole peeled style: tomatoes retain overall shape after processing; peel removal is typical for whole-style preserved tomatoes.
Compositional Metrics- Codex preserved tomatoes pH limit: pH must not exceed 4.5.
- Example Egyptian supplier (IQG Foods) reports pH 4.0–4.5 and Brix 6–8% for whole peeled tomato/passata specifications (supplier specification; verify per contract/spec).
Packaging- Common retail pack size observed in Egypt retail listings: 400g cans.
- Codex notes minimum fill and drained-weight concepts for retail containers; pack may be solid pack or regular pack with packing media such as tomato juice/puree/concentrate.
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Tomato procurement (multiple seasonal cycles) → washing/sorting → peeling and coring/trim → filling (often with tomato juice/puree as packing medium) → hermetic sealing → thermal processing → cooling → coding/labeling → ambient warehousing → distribution (traditional grocers and modern trade)
Temperature- Shelf-stable ambient distribution; protect from excessive heat and can damage to reduce corrosion/leaker risk.
Freight IntensityHigh
Transport ModeSea
Risks
Regulatory Compliance HighImporting peeled/preserved tomatoes into Egypt can be blocked if the importer is not licensed by Egypt’s National Food Safety Authority (NFSA); NFSA Decision No. 6/2020 states food importation activities are prohibited without an NFSA license.Use an NFSA-licensed importer and complete the Decision No. 6/2020 licensing/document checklist (including Importers’ Register evidence) before contracting shipments.
Climate MediumWater scarcity and climate/heat impacts in Egypt can disrupt tomato yields and processing raw-material availability, affecting domestic supply and exportable surplus for preserved/peeled tomato products.Contract across multiple growing areas and seasons; maintain multi-supplier procurement and inventory buffers around peak-heat periods.
Food Safety MediumPreserved tomatoes must meet heat-processing and acidity (pH) controls; Codex sets a pH ceiling (pH must not exceed 4.5) and links preserved tomatoes to canned-food hygiene codes, making process control failures a safety and compliance risk.Require validated thermal process controls, routine pH monitoring, and HACCP/ISO 22000-aligned QA with lot-level retention/traceability.
Logistics MediumBecause canned/preserved tomatoes are freight-intensive, sea-freight cost spikes or route disruptions can materially raise landed costs for imports and compress margins for exports from Egypt.Contract with indexed freight clauses, pre-book container capacity for peak lanes, and qualify alternative routing/ports where feasible.
Sustainability- Water scarcity and irrigation dependence (Nile-linked agriculture) create structural exposure for tomato raw-material supply and processing continuity.
- Climate change and heat stress can reduce tomato yields and increase supply volatility across production cycles.
Standards- HACCP
- ISO 22000
- FSSC 22000
- BRCGS Food Safety (BRC)
FAQ
What is the most common HS code reference for peeled/whole preserved tomatoes in trade statistics for Egypt?A common anchor code is HS 200210, defined by the UN Statistics Division as “tomatoes, whole or in pieces, prepared or preserved otherwise than by vinegar or acetic acid.” This HS code is also the basis for the Egypt import/export figures cited in this record (UN Comtrade via World Bank WITS).
Can imports of peeled/preserved tomatoes into Egypt be stopped for licensing reasons?Yes. NFSA Decision No. 6/2020 (unofficial English translation published in a USDA GAIN report) states that food importation activities are prohibited unless the importer has a license from Egypt’s National Food Safety Authority (NFSA). If the importer is not NFSA-licensed, the shipment can be blocked from lawful import entry.
Which origins have recently been important suppliers of preserved tomatoes to Egypt?UN Comtrade data via World Bank WITS shows that in 2023 the leading suppliers of HS 200210 shipments into Egypt were the European Union and Italy, with smaller values from Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States.
What acidity (pH) limit is relevant for preserved tomatoes used as peeled/whole canned tomatoes?Codex Standard CXS 13-1981 for preserved tomatoes states that the pH must not exceed 4.5. An example Egyptian supplier specification (IQG Foods) reports pH in the 4.0–4.5 range for whole peeled tomato/passata specs, but buyers should verify pH and process controls per contract and batch testing.