Export Record Volume for Southern Hemisphere Table Grapes

For the first time, grape shipments from the southern hemisphere have exceeded 1.5 million mt by the end of the 2021/22 export season. The southern hemisphere grape season usually starts in September and lasts until April every year. According to the South African Table Grapes Industry (SATI), of the 1.5 million mt exported from the southern hemisphere this last season, 40% were from Chile, 35% from Peru, 23% from South Africa, and 4% from Brazil.

According to SATI, Chile continues to be the world’s leading table grape exporter, with shipments reaching almost 0.6 million mt. The main destinations for Chilean exports are the US, accounting for more than 50% of the export share, followed by Asia with 22%, Europe with 16%, and Latin America with 7%.

The 2021/22 grape season was not easy for Chilean producers and exporters since the wholesale price of grapes did not reflect the 30%-40% increase in production cost due to the price rise in labor, fertilizers, pesticides, packing materials, and freight costs. According to Juan Pablo Guerrero, Tridge’s Origination Manager in Chile, many Chilean grape growers had a difficult 2021/22 season with losses. “Since it is the difficult third season in a row due to COVID-19, logistic issues, and increasing production costs, Chilean growers are re-evaluating grape production”, he explained. He also added that “so far in the 2022/23 season, heavy rains from May to July affected Chile, but the effect on grape crops will be seen in the spring when flowering occurs.”

Behind Chile, Peru was able to reach 0.53 million mt in table grape exports, with the US taking 45% of the share, followed by Europe with 25%, Asia with 15%, followed by Canada, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. Peruvian fresh table grape exports continued to grow at a rapid pace in 2022. In Q1-22, Peruvian grape exports reached a value of USD 616 million, representing a 22.3% increase from Q1-21, when the export value was USD 504.2 million.

South Africa has been recording progress in its table grape industry for years. For the 2021/22 season, it reached 0.35 million mt for the first time, with the main destinations being Europe with 76% of the total exports, then Asia with 12%, followed by the US and Russia. Exports to North America reached 0.24 million mt, with exports to Canada increasing by 12.36% while exports to the US decreased by 24.17%.

Brazil reached 63 thousand mt this year, with Europe continuing to be its leading destination taking 78% of total exports, followed by North America with 15% and Latin America with 7%. However, unlike the other southern hemisphere grape-producing countries, Brazilian exports registered a 59% YoY drop in its export volume due to high-intensity rains exceeding historical levels, causing the loss of more than 30 thousand mt of grapes.