The Italian canned tomato industry is at the center of an international investigation for alleged dumping practices. This time it is Australia that is pointing the finger at the exports of some of our country’s big brands, in a case that closely resembles the precedent of Italian pasta, accused of unfair competition in the United States.
The investigation
The Australian Anti-Dumping Commission has formalized the preliminary findings of the SEF No 654 investigation, which examines exports of prepared or preserved tomatoes from Italy. The numbers are significant: in the period investigated (1 October 2023 – 30 September 2024), Italian products dominated the Australian market with a 76% share, recording a 10% increase in volume compared to the previous period.
The investigation involved some of the main Italian exporters in the sector: Mutti SpA, De Clemente, IMCA SpA, and La Doria SpA. The Commission found that approximately 91% of imports from Italy were sold at very low prices, representing 71% of the total Australian market.
Preliminary findings show variable dumping margins between different exporters. De Clemente has the highest margin at 5.5%, followed by IMCA with 3.0% and Mutti with 2.3%. A significant exception is represented by La Doria, for which a negative margin of 8.8% was found, effectively excluding it from the accusations of dumping.
What makes this case particularly interesting is the Commission’s preliminary conclusion: despite the finding of dumping, the damage to the Australian industry was not primarily caused by this practice. Italian producers enjoy a structural competitive advantage that goes well beyond the dumping margins found.
This depends on the size and efficiency of the sector. With 5.3 million tonnes of tomatoes processed per year compared to 438 thousand tonnes in Australia, Italy benefits from economies of scale that reduce production costs. Even eliminating dumping and subsidies, Italian tomatoes would remain between 18% and 20% cheaper than Australian ones.
A crucial element that emerged from the survey concerns the qualitative perception of Australian consumers. Supermarkets have reported that Italian tomatoes have a fuller, sweeter flavour, with a deeper red color and higher Brix (sweetness indicator) levels than local produce. The Italian origin therefore represents a significant added value, associated with superior quality.
Furthermore, the Italian industry offers a variety of products that the Australian one cannot replicate, including specialties such as San Marzano, baby Roma and cherry tomatoes, covering all price ranges from the economy to the premium segment.
The possible consequences
The Australian investigation is still at a preliminary stage. The Italian companies involved have until today, 2 December 2025, to submit observations and new evidence. Subsequently, the Commissioner will transmit the final report to the Minister for Industry and Innovation, expected by 28 January 2026.
The possible imposition of anti-dumping duties will depend on the Minister’s decision, who will have to establish whether the below-cost sales have actually damaged the local industry in a significant way. The Commissioner’s preliminary assessment, however, suggests that even in the presence of confirmed dumping, the advantage of Italian producers does not derive from incorrect practices, but from structural factors such as lower production costs and economies of scale, thus consolidating the competitiveness of their products on the Australian market.
