Netherlands
Based on insights from Fernando Dupuis, Tridge’s Origination Manager, there will be a lower volume of grapes in the Dutch market from the Southern Hemisphere, mainly from Chile and Peru, for season 2022/23. Traders are cautious about transit times, logistic costs, and ongoing challenging economic conditions in the EU. Adverse weather conditions, like high temperatures and lack of precipitation, decreased production volumes in the EU. However, the quality of grapes is satisfactory due to less impact of pests and diseases, and winegrowers also expect good quality wine. Conversely, a lower volume of grapes will likely lead to higher prices in the EU market. (Continue Reading)
Italy
574% Increase From the Field to the Shelf for Table Grapes
The average price of fruit and vegetables rises by 300% on the way from the field to the shelf of the large-scale retail trade. According to CIA-Agricoltori Italiani, skyrocketing inflation is creating strong imbalances along the supply chain of fresh agricultural products. The repercussions on the consumption of fruit and vegetables in households are significant, registering a decline of 10% in the last 12 months. But it is also deflation alarm for farmers, who see prices recognized too low compared to the sharp increases in production costs. According to the CIA analysis, at the top of the ranking of the origin / shelf gap there is table grapes paid for 0.42 euros per kilo while on the sales counters the price goes to almost 3 euros (+ 574%).
Chile
ASOEX Table Grape Committee Second Forecast for 2022/23 Season
The ASOEX Table Grape Committee reported its second estimate for the 2022-2023 fresh grape export season. In this way, shipments amount to a total aggregate volume of 68.6 million boxes (8.2 kg), showing a drop of 7.7% compared to the 2021-2022 financial year. Shipments of new varieties are expected to reach 36,743,977 boxes, followed by traditional varieties with 20,372,471 and Red Globe with 11,490,306 boxes. These last two varieties reflect a drop compared to the first forecast, which in the case of Red Globe is more than 850 thousand boxes, and in the case of traditional varieties more than 1.8 million boxes. Likewise, when it comes to color, an increase in white varieties is seen, in contrast to the first forecast, amounting to 24,008,975 boxes. While in the others there is a drop compared to the previous forecast. The red varieties would reach 26,634,236 boxes, the black 6,473,237 boxes and the Red Globe would total 11,490,306 boxes.
Regarding the shipments expected by market, Ignacio Caballero, coordinator of the ASOEX Table Grape Committee, indicated: “We will experience a drop in shipments to all our destination markets compared to the previous season. For the United States we are anticipating a slight drop of 1%, in Asia of 9% and Europe of 27%”. The professional added that the United States will continue to be the main destination for Chilean table grapes, a market that will receive 38.62 million boxes, followed by Asia with 14.80 million boxes, Europe with 9.12 million boxes, and among the other markets the remaining 6.07 million boxes will be distributed.
China
Chinese Shine Muscat Planting Technology Increases Competitiveness in the Market
Chinese Shine Muscat planting technology is improving, increasing production and quality and making prices more competitive than in Korea and Japan. Now, the premium grade of Shine Muscat's price is USD 7-8/kg in China. And Chinese Shine Muscat can be stored for 3-6 months due to the preservation technology revolution, so there is no production season gap between China and Korea. In this case, Korea Shine Muscat is becoming less competitive in the Chinese market, as the gap between Korean and Chinese Shine Muscat quality is getting smaller, and the cost difference is getting larger.
Chinese Buyers Show Interest in Importing the New Variety My Heart Grape
Chinese buyers are showing interest in the new variety of Shine Muscat - "My Heart Grape" in W42. This variety is not yet legally imported to China, but buyers are already reaching out to suppliers and making the necessary arrangements to start the legal imports of this product.
W40 Wholesale Market Activity for Grapes
Domestic grapes include seedless red grape, blue grape, sunshine rose and the new red grape "Queen Nina" (at the end of the season). Traders said the grape market was slow and sales were unsatisfactory. "Queen Nina" has a good ruddy appearance and large size, and the price is higher. But sales are not as good as expected.
South Africa
The Transnet Strike Caused a 17% WoW Increase in the Price of South African Table Grapes
South African table grape prices have increased by 17% WoW from USD 5.17/kg in W40 to USD 6.06/kg in W41. The increase in local table grape prices is attributed to the Transnet strike resulting in low volumes in the domestic market. Such low volumes were last seen in the market in June 2020 due to import restrictions as a result of COVID-19, where prices reached USD 8.38/kg.
Turkey
Pamukova Region Expects to Harvest 80-85 Thousand Tons This Year
Pamukova Chamber of Agriculture President, Yaşar Ulukaya, stated that grapes started to be harvested in July and continued until the end of October. Grapes are produced on an area of 28 thousand decares in Pamukova with an estimated 80-85 thousand tons of harvest expected this year. Prices are satisfactory, ranging between 8-9 TL for white grapes and 8-11 TL for black grapes. Grape producers are satisfied with the price and yield.
Brazil
Grape Producers and Exporters in Brazil Are Already Preparing to Start Shipments to the USA
Usually, the Brazilian Grapes arrive at the beginning of December in the USA, the main port of entry being Philadelphia. White grapes are the most requested by Americans. Brazilian producers ship the larger berry sizes varieties and large bunches packed in 8.2 kg boxes. In shipments to the USA, exporters need to attend to the phytosanitary requirements of the Cold Treatment against the fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) that is performed during the trip inside the container. The expectation is that the first Brazilian grapes of this season will arrive in mid-November in the USA.
The second half of the year in the São Francisco Valley is characterized by high air temperatures, low relative humidity, and the absence of rain, which provides a condition that improves the quality of the fruit produced in the region during this period. These weather conditions help reduce the fungi that appear in the post-harvest of grapes and mangos and ensure a better quality fruit and longer shelf-life. However, the weather forecast indicates rain between Tuesday and Thursday of W43. With the highest probability of rain on Wednesday, producers intensified the protection with plastic covers and anticipated the harvest of the week to Sunday and Monday. After Thursday in W43, the forecasts indicate strong heat and no rain.
Seedless Black Grape Prices Rise 7.6% WoW in the São Francisco Valley, Brazil
As in recent years, the planted area of table grapes in the São Francisco Valley (PE/BA) has been increasing gradually, driven by seedless varieties. Of these, it is noted that the white grapes are mostly destined for export at this time of year, and the seedless black grapes only partially. However, employees consulted by Hortifruti/Cepea have reported that the domestic market remains heated and maintaining good prices, but grape prices may fall in the coming weeks, as the supply of black grapes continues to increase with the intensification of the harvest. This week (10/17 to 10/21), the seedless black grape in bulk (represented mainly by BRS Vitória) was sold at an average of R$ 5.17/kg, up 7.6% compared to last week.
Brazilian Grape Exports Are More Intense in October
Exports of seedless grapes in the São Francisco Valley (PE/BA) intensified this month. With the decrease in domestic supply, commercial relations at the national level were facilitated in all markets, since the northeastern production has a strong influence on negotiations throughout Brazil. With the continuity of shipments to Europe during the month of October, the trend is for an even greater reduction in the availability of grapes in the Brazilian market. In relation to other production markets, in Pirapora (MG) prices continue at high levels and even reach historical nominal records. In Jales (SP), the scenario is similar to that of the Minas Gerais square, with high prices and the harvest coming to an end. It is important to point out that in the two producing regions of the Southeast, supply is limited and prices cover production costs. For the next month, the perspective is for the beginning of harvest in Marialva (PR), Porto Feliz (SP) and Louveira/Indaiatuba (SP), increasing domestic supply.
Moldova
In the Current Marketing Year, Moldova Will Send Fewer Grapes for Export Than in the Past
Between August and mid-October, Moldova exported just over 17,000 tons of table grapes from the 2022 harvest. This is about the same as the export of this product for the same period last year. The first place in the top countries-importers of Moldovan table grapes is expectedly occupied by Romania - almost 5.7 thousand tons, Kazakhstan quite unexpectedly took the second place - more than 4 thousand tons, the third - Ukraine, about 2 thousand tons, according to EastFruit specialists . The Belarusian and Russian markets, which in previous years were at the top of the list of importers of grapes from Moldova, received 1.7 thousand tons and 724 tons, respectively.
Representatives of associations of Moldovan viticulturists note with regret that in the current marketing year the country is definitely exporting a much smaller volume of table grapes than last season (about 68 thousand tons). Although in 2022 in Moldova the harvest of table grapes will be higher than in the past - more than 100 thousand tons against 85 thousand tons. At the same time, the quality of grapes from the 2022 harvest, despite the drought, is also better than last year. The main problem is that due to the Russian embargo, limited demand for Moldova table grapes in autumn and a significant increase in electricity tariffs, according to expert forecasts, only about 20-25 thousand tons of grapes will be stored in the country's fruit storage facilities for sale in November-January. Last year, about 40 thousand tons were stored for export during this period.
Unfortunately, according to fruit market operators, due to uncertain commercial prospects and increased storage costs, a significant proportion of medium and even high quality Moldova grapes from vineyards is sent directly to wineries. At the same time, the purchase prices for "forced industrial" table grapes fell to the minimum level - 2 lei/kg ($0.10/kg).
Hungary
Table Grape Prices on the Budapest Wholesale Market in W41
On the Budapest Wholesale Market in W41 the price of domestic Chasselas 350 and Hamburg muscat table grapes increased by 17 and 18 percent compared to the previous year at HUF 350 and Hamburg muscat 590 per kilogram, respectively, while white table grapes imported from Italy were sold at HUF 628 and red table grapes at HUF 722 per kilogram (+12.5 and 7 percent).
Bulgaria
Market Price Index W41 for Grapes
The market price index (MPI), which reflects wholesale food prices in Bulgaria, rose last week by 0.75 percent to 2,141 points, BTA reported. Grapes were traded at BGN 2.08 per kilogram.
