Peru’s Next Grape Season Projected for a Record Volume due to Varietal Diversification

Published 2022년 9월 29일

Peruvian table grape exports are projected to grow by 11% YoY for the 2022/23 season from the previous campaign reaching a record volume of approximately 71.5 million boxes or 646 thousand mt. The latest projection comes after a 13% growth in the 2021-22 season that just ended, attesting to continuous export growth and achieving the position as the second largest global exporter of table grapes by volume. While struggling with operational issues such as a lack of containers and escalating freight costs, Peru has been able to increase its export volume by substantially enhancing its varietal diversification, which has led to enabling new markets.

According to a recent data release by the Association of Table Grape Producers of Peru (PROVID), table grape exports from Peru are projected to grow by 11% in comparison to the previous 2021/22 campaign, and the exported volumes are expected to culminate at about 71.5 million boxes (each box equalling 8.2 kilograms).

With this new optimistic projection for next season, Peru will have four consecutive years of volume growth in table grape exports. Furthermore, the Latin American country has substantially gained its export share in the market from the other southern hemisphere grape suppliers. 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.

The reason behind Peru’s increase in export volume is the replacement of traditional grapes for more productive proprietary varieties. This successful swift in varieties has been driving demand and has enabled the diversification of new markets. Additionally, these new varieties have expanded the seasonality and productive window in the country, taking advantage of a more extensive export season.

Grape plants are experiencing better productive performance in Peru thanks to varietal changes made three or four years ago. As with any crop, maximum productivity is obtained between the third and fifth year after sewing, so currently, younger trees are close to reaching peak productivity. However, the most significant advantage that has come from the varietal shift is the most extended commercial window that these new varieties bring to the Peruvian export market.

Grape production usually begins with the Red globe in June and extends until March, spanning almost the entire year. In Piura, seedless grape production is initiated in September along the Peruvian coast until March. Volumes mostly culminate in April. However, the 2022/23 season for many producers started in June and July with an early harvest and exports to South and Central American countries.

Peruvian growers took advantage of a commercial window in April and May, a time of year when demand for white seedless grapes is not satisfied. Chile has red grapes at this time of year and the Mexican table grape supply, which takes over the North American market, only comes into season in May. In fact, Peruvian table grape exports in April of the 2021/22 season increased 500% YoY compared to the same weeks in the previous 2020/21 season.

According to Ana Altimari, Tridge’s Distribution Manager in the UK, retailers in the UK have gotten used to the arrival of early southern hemisphere grapes, mainly from Peru. “By W34 of the year, retailers are receiving seedless grapes from Spain, Greece, and Italy. However, this is a key time to start looking at the Peruvian market, which is scheduled to start harvesting their early seedless varieties by now,” she explained. “By W36, the delivery schedule, varieties, and pricing are expected to be the main topic of discussion with Peruvian growers and wholesalers for the UK market,'' she added.

Furthermore, Peruvian table grapes will soon be exported to the Japanese market, which has been in the pipeline for a long time and will undoubtedly further increase Peru’s export volume growth.