9 crop, the lowest in 10 years, except for 1997 (when plant illnesses had damaged tomatoes in large proportion) . CHINA : Sound and strong factories, paying cash their raw material such as Tuhne and Chalkis, are currently running fine, close to full capacity . But most of smaller units still run very slowly with many just reaching 50 % of capacity . There again, a sharp decrease soon in the supply of fresh tomatoes is feared . At this stage, we expect production to be around 50 % of 2000 volumes at 150 000 Mt . only .   TUNISIA : Crop estimates vary between 400 000 and 450 000 Mt . Against 650 000 Mt . Expected before the crop and more than 700 000 Mt . BRIEF ON MARKET CONDITIONS:   - In Europe, factories with uncontracted products have either increased their prices or even withdrawn from the market . It is now widely agreed upon that prices will move higher . Question is by how much . This will greatly depend on abilities for processors to produce properly in September . - As explained earlier, the financial crisis in Turkey makes it difficult to understand the local situation . Needs for cash push some factories to maintain cheap prices when others try to build up stocks for better prices ahead . Also, Turkish factories balance between producing for local market (quite attractive but requesting long term storage and financing) and export markets . Therefore, prices from Turkey are quite uncertain at this time . - China is definitely on the way to a prices hike; big processors officially try to impose a high minimum price when smaller factories tend to sell goods for quick shipments . No hope for buyers to see prices even close to the bottom levels they experienced last crop . - In the USA, most contracts are made on long term basis (on several years sometimes) and prices are less elastic than in the rest of the world . One East Coast trader reports that “Californian processors start to withdraw from the market and one seller is beginning to prorate his customers; but, surprisingly, market is still relatively soft with prices still around the same level at around 29 cents per Lb . For 30/32 HB in bins” . Prices will go up but it is not sure whether the increase will be so high; it is now admitted that USA will import paste from foreign countries . - Chile has already understood very well the world situation and will try to use their counter <