A practical guide to Brix grades, Hot Break vs Cold Break, COA confirmation, and bulk packaging formats — so you can specify what you actually need when sourcing bulk tomato paste from China.
Bulk tomato paste quotations revolve around a small set of practical terms — Brix, Hot Break / Cold Break, COA, aseptic drum, and optional bin packing. These terms affect product performance, logistics cost, and whether the paste matches your production line. This article explains them in buyer-friendly language so importers can discuss specifications clearly with suppliers.
When an importer first looks at a tomato paste quotation, the focus usually goes to price. But price without specification tells you nothing. The same Brix grade with a different process type or packaging format can mean a different landed cost, different production yield, and different performance in your sauce, ketchup or soup line.
This guide covers the main decisions every bulk tomato paste buyer needs to make: Brix concentration, Hot Break vs Cold Break, COA review, and packaging format. Each decision may affect cost, handling and product performance, so the final specification should always be confirmed with the supplier before order confirmation.
If you are also tracking the broader China tomato paste market, our China tomato paste export data review covers volume, price cycles and long-term trends. This article focuses on the product itself.
Brix (°Bx) measures the soluble solids content of tomato paste — essentially how concentrated it is. Fresh tomatoes are roughly 5–6°Bx. Tomato paste is produced by evaporating water until the desired concentration is reached.
Brix is not just a technical number. It directly affects:
These grades are commonly discussed in bulk tomato paste sourcing. Actual availability, process type, loading plan and COA details should be confirmed with the supplier before contracting.
| Brix Grade | Concentration Type | Approx. Concentration Ratio (vs. 5°Bx fresh tomato) | Typical Applications | Notes for Buyers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28–30% | Double Concentrated | ~6:1 | Pasta sauces, pizza sauces, general food processing, repacking into smaller formats | Commonly available in both Hot Break and Cold Break, subject to supplier specification |
| 30–32% | High Double Concentrated | ~6.5:1 | Ketchup, thick condiments, export markets requiring richer body, private-label retail sauces | Often considered when buyers need more tomato solids while keeping handling relatively familiar |
| 36–38% | Triple Concentrated | ~7.5:1 | Long-distance export, industrial repacking, blending base for formulated products | May improve freight efficiency per unit of tomato solids; dilution and mixing capability should be confirmed |
The practical takeaway: 28–30% is the most widely traded grade worldwide and works for most applications. 30–32% offers higher concentration and more body, making it the go-to choice for ketchup and thick sauces. 36–38% is the most economical option for long-distance shipping — it packs more tomato solids per kilo, which means lower freight cost per equivalent fresh-tomato weight. Buyers considering 36–38% should confirm that their dilution system can handle the denser paste, and verify the process type in the quotation and COA.
Buyers sourcing from Xinjiang have a structural advantage when buying high-Brix paste. Xinjiang's abundant sunshine, large day-night temperature differences and dry climate help processing tomatoes accumulate higher natural soluble solids. This makes the region particularly well-suited for producing 36–38% concentrated paste more economically. For buyers, sourcing high-Brix paste from Xinjiang often translates to a cost advantage versus other origins. For a deeper look at Xinjiang's role in China's tomato paste industry, see our Xinjiang export analysis. Final availability and pricing depend on individual supplier stock, processing season and order volume.
After Brix, the next important specification is the process type. Hot Break and Cold Break produce distinctly different viscosity, color and flavor profiles, so buyers should understand which type fits their final application.
The difference happens at the crushing stage, before concentration:
Both types have legitimate uses. The right choice depends on your end product and production line.
| Parameter | Hot Break (HB) | Cold Break (CB) |
|---|---|---|
| Process Temperature | 85–100°C | 65–75°C |
| Pectin Retention | High — enzymes deactivated by heat | Partial — enzymes remain active |
| Viscosity / Body | Thicker, pastier, more structured | Thinner, more fluid, easier to pump |
| Color | Deeper red, slightly duller | Brighter red, fresher appearance |
| Flavor Profile | Cooked, deep, rich | Fresh, natural, closer to raw tomato |
| Best Applications | Ketchup, thick sauces, products needing body and spoon-stand texture | Soups, juices, dressings, re-processing bases, blending applications |
| Common Brix Availability | 28–30%, 30–32% | 28–30%, 30–32%, 36–38% |
One important point: buyers should not assume process type from Brix alone. High-Brix paste is predominantly supplied as Cold Break, but the final process type should always be stated clearly in the quotation, product specification and COA.
For buyers serving multiple end uses, clarifying the process-type requirement early — not after the order is placed — helps avoid specification mismatch in bulk tomato paste sourcing.
Brix and process type are the headline specs, but they do not tell the full quality picture. Before confirming an order, ask the supplier for a recent certificate of analysis. A standard COA for bulk tomato paste typically covers consistency, pH, color reading, mold count, and packaging details.
COA values can vary by producer, product grade and processing season. Rather than comparing suppliers against a fixed reference number, the practical approach is to review the supplier's latest COA, confirm whether the values are acceptable for your application, and where possible, arrange a sample or trial before the first full container.
For first-time importers, confirming Brix, process type, packaging format, and COA — plus a sample if available — is usually sufficient before the first order. Buyers with stricter production-line requirements can request additional testing items directly with the supplier.
For China-origin bulk tomato paste exports, the most common packaging format is a 220L steel drum with an internal aseptic bag. The tomato paste is filled into a multi-layer aseptic bag, sealed, and protected by the outer steel drum for long-distance ocean transportation.
A full drum usually contains around 235 kg net weight of tomato paste, depending on product Brix, density and supplier filling practice. A standard 20-foot container commonly loads 80 drums, but the final loading plan, pallet type, net weight and total container weight should always be confirmed before shipment.
For large-volume industrial users with suitable unloading equipment, bin packing is an alternative — a larger aseptic bag (typically around 1400L) placed inside a wooden bin or similar outer container. This format can improve handling efficiency for high-volume production lines, but requires compatible receiving and discharge infrastructure at destination.
In practice, 220L aseptic bag-in-drum is the standard format most buyers will see in China-origin bulk tomato paste export trade. Buyers importing into markets covered in our destination-market analysis will usually find this to be the basic offering, while bin packing should be discussed separately according to equipment and order scale.
Before requesting a quotation, it is helpful to prepare a few basic details: target Brix, Hot Break or Cold Break process type, packaging format, order quantity, destination port and required documents.
If some details are not yet fixed, buyers can share the intended end use and shipment plan first. The supplier can then discuss available options and provide a quotation based on the final specification.
RTM helps buyers clarify the main product requirements before quotation, including Brix, Hot Break or Cold Break process type, packaging format, order quantity and destination. For large-volume buyers, we can also discuss bin packing options where suitable supply is available and the destination can handle this format.
For bulk tomato paste from China, the final price depends not only on Brix, but also on process type, packaging, order volume, shipment timing and destination. Clear specifications help both buyer and supplier avoid misunderstanding before order confirmation.
If you are comparing China tomato paste suppliers, we recommend confirming the specification first and then comparing quotations. This makes the price comparison more meaningful and helps support a smoother shipment process.
Contact RTM for bulk tomato paste with your specificationThis guide draws on publicly available industry specifications, common trade practice, and RTM's own experience in China-origin bulk tomato paste supply. It does not quote prices and is not a substitute for direct communication with a supplier about your specific requirements.
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