South African grape sector worries about extreme volatile European market

"All the big players are experiencing this season differently," said AJ Griesel, CEO of South African Table Grape Industry. However, the ongoing congestion in ports and the uncertainty surrounding developments in Ukraine have consequences for the sector as a whole. Right: mixed packs of grapes are processed in Hex River, where the peak season is currently underway “At SATI, we receive feedback from several exporters and growers. Although their messages differ in details, there is one collective theme that comes up frequently and that is the current challenging logistical situation. Some have the problem that their fruit is delayed in ports, while others manage to get their product to the different markets. So we can say that the situation is extremely volatile and that the arrival and availability of grapes is quite unpredictable." This diverging experience of exporters, he says, is due to the availability of ships and how far in advance cargo space was reserved. "Then, the ...