As the European Union adjusted its Common Agricultural Policy reforms, the United States found a gap in the market and in recent years increased its exports of canned tomatoes, becoming the world's third largest supplier of canned tomatoes.

 

 

 

The U.S. usually exports less than 40,000 tons of canned tomatoes, but in 2005 there was a big growth, with exports jumping to 47,000 tons. In 2007, the export of canned tomatoes increased by 8%, reaching a record high of 51490 tons. Its exports amounted to US $37 million 800 thousand, an increase of 24% over a year ago.

 

 

 

Canada's imports of canned tomatoes topped the list, down 6% from 2006, but still reached 30,470 tons; Mexico's imports fell 28% to 3,340 tons. Honduras has been increasing its purchases from the United States in recent years to 1,490 tons, compared with 140 tons imported in 2006.

 

 

 

Imports of canned tomatoes were also important in the Far East in 2007, with Japan, the second largest customer of canned tomatoes in the United States, importing 6,825 tons, an increase of 43%; and South Korea's purchases of 6,020 tons of canned tomatoes doubled from 2006 to become the third largest buyer of canned tomatoes in the United States.