Europe
In W47, the supply of white seedless grapes on the European market was entirely replaced by imports, with the last batches of EU grapes selling for a good price. The demand for imported grapes remains steady in the European market, with prices ranging from USD 18.69-20.77/5kg box (10x500g box) for the Arra 15, Sugar Crisp, and Sweet Globe varieties. The imported grapes available at the market are mostly from Brazil, with a very limited presence from Peru. Red seedless grapes are almost completely out of stock, with prices for Brazilian origin at USD 20.77/5kg box. Red seedless grapes from Italy, Greece, and Turkey are nearing the end of the season, with prices offered from USD 15.58 to 16.61/5kg box. The first arrivals of red seeded grapes from Peru, the Red Globe variety, are expected in W48, with market prices of around USD 20.77/8.2 kg box.
W46 Fresh Table Grape Prices in Europe Are Stable
In W46, European market price for white seedless grapes is stable, with supply primarily from Europe and also imported from Brazil. The EU grape is mainly produced in Greece and, to a lesser extent, Italy, with prices ranging from USD 13.34-14.37/5kg box (10x500g box) for Sublima and Sweet Globe varieties. Brazilian white seedless grapes are already being sold in retail stores, with steady demand and prices ranging from USD 17.44-19.50/5kg (10x500g box) for the Arra 15, Sugar Crisp, and Sweet Globe varieties. The red seedless grape market is recovering in W46 as the supply from Italy, Greece, and Turkey has returned to normal after a few weeks of shortage. The quality available is better compared to previous weeks, and the price has increased to USD 15.39/5kg box. Brazilian red grapes are taking advantage of this market, just like the white ones, and are being sold for prices ranging from USD 18.47- 20.52/5kg box. Furthermore, the European market for black seedless grapes remains limited, with only the Vitoria variety from Brazil available. Price for seedless grapes ranges between USD 16.42-19.50/5kg box in W46. As for seeded grapes, the market is expected to become more interesting with the first arrivals of Red Globe grapes from Peru, announced on or around November 28.
Peru
Tridge Analysis: Peru Will Become the Main Global Exporter of Grapes in the 2022/23 Campaign
The 2022/2023 Peruvian table grape campaign has started on a positive note and confirming the trend of Peru becoming the main global exporter in volume and value by the end of the season. In the first month of the campaign, Peru increased its table grape export volume by 30% YoY to 4.52 million in the same month last year. Furthermore, the fact that Chile is expected to reduce grape exports considerably following a drop in production and Peruvian export associations claiming to have improved maritime logistics for the next export season should make Peru a leader in global grape supplies and exports. (Continue Reading)
Table Grape Export Volume in the 2022/23 Campaign Would Grow by About 20%
The 2022/23 table grape campaign has just begun and shipments are well above estimates, said Fernando Cillóniz Benavides. He indicated that so far in the 2022/23 campaign, the volumes dispatched of table grapes by Peru show an increase of 24% compared to what was shipped in the same period of the previous campaign (2021/22). He explained that in October of this campaign 46,863,973 kilos were shipped, and in November (as of the 20th) 70,175,141 kilos were shipped. Cillóniz highlighted that all export forecasts announced a growth of 10% in volume for this campaign (2022/23) compared to what was registered in the previous campaign, however "I dare to say that we are going to grow more than 10%, surely we are going to approach a 20% increase in volume”. He pointed out that in the current campaign, there are no more areas of table grapes, which is why not much growth in volume was expected, however, the new patented varieties are very productive and have replaced the traditional varieties that, commercially speaking, are "obsolete".
Slow Sales of Peruvian Green Grapes in the Chinese Market in W47
Peruvian green grapes were hard to sell in the Chinese market in W47. On November 24, 2022, 2 containers of green grapes (Autumn crisp variety) opened to sell in the market, but sales were incredibly slow due to a slightly sweet or sour taste, and even the Brix tested at 18.3, but the taste was still not good. The selling price for 4kg size 3J of grapes stood USD 24.90 (RMB 180) in W47.
Grape Season in the Department of Ica Region Is Delayed Until 2023 Due to Cold Weather
During W47, cold weather on the Peruvian coasts has caused delayed growth, ripening, and Brix level of grapes, delaying the start of the season in the Department of Ica region (ICA). It is forecasted that the season will begin in W1-W2 2023.
Ica Region Consolidates as the First Exporting Region of Table Grapes
Ica plans to export more than 265,000 tons of table grapes during the 2022/23 season, the National Agrarian Health Service (Senasa) said, adding that Israel, Japan and Chile will join the list of destination markets that enjoy the delicious Peruvian fruit. "Senasa has an important role in the issue of agricultural exports and one of them is the maintenance of markets and we have 92 international markets for table grapes," said Julio Vivas Bancallán, director of Senasa's Plant Quarantine Branch. He argued that Senasa works so that Israel, Chile and Japan become the next international destination markets where the table grapes produced in Ica will be exported. "Since 2010 we have been working with Japan to open this market," he added. Alejandro Cabrera Cigarán, general manager of the Association of Table Grape Producers of Peru (Provid), stated that our country, during the 2021-2022 campaign, managed to export 531,750 tons of table grapes and the Ica region contributed 265,465 tons, close to 50% of the total. The Provid representative estimated that for the 2022-2023 campaign, Peru should exceed 580,000 tons of table grapes exported to international markets. "For the 2022-2023 campaign, the initial projection is to grow 10% more compared to the end of 2021-2022," he said.
The road to the Port of Paita, in northern Peru, from where a good part of the grape and blueberry harvest leaves for international markets, has never been so clear. This is the clear sign of the strong crisis that the Peruvian fruit industry is facing: a strike by transporters that has no movement of trucks in full harvest of fruits that are key to the dynamism of Peruvian agro-exports. The general manager of Provid (Association of Table Grape Producers of Peru), Alejandro Cabrera indicated that this Friday most companies in the north stopped their harvesting work, "there are no more refrigerators to store their fruit ”. He added that the cold rooms are full of cargo that has not been able to leave the packing plants since the day the strike began, last Tuesday the 22nd.
Italy
The Italian Late Grape Season Produced Low-Quality Grapes as a Result of the Unfavourable Weather
The Italian late grape season's second half usually ends in early October, but in 2022 it lasted the whole month and was one of the worst seasons in recent years. This was primarily caused by the poor quality of grapes produced as a result of the unfavourable weather. Temperatures are generally lower in October, so in autumn, grapes can develop the good consistency, turgidity, and crunchiness that define a quality grape. However, temperatures in 2022 were high, easily reaching 30 °C until mid-October. This caused stress in grapevines, resulting in berry softening, which made it impossible for farmers to offer quality grapes to the market.
Bonizzi underlines the slow progress of the grapes: “Prices are stable with the white Italian from Sicily at 1.50 euros, the same price as Pizzutella and Regina. The market is saturated and it's no longer going as it used to.
Chile
Chilean Fruits Are Expected in the North American Market
With fall heading into the US market, it's time for winter fruit from Chile to start making its way to the US, with fresh cherries currently attracting the most interest. For several decades, Chile has had a robust crop of table grapes that it ships all over the world, with North America being its main market. During the 2021/22 season, Chile shipped more than 320,000 tons of grapes to North America, which represented 53% of total world grape exports. This year's crop is estimated to be 7.7 percent lower than last season's, but the big news is the percentage of new varieties. According to Brux, for the first time, more than 50% of the volume exported will be of new varieties. With the advance in volume of the new varieties above 50%, the leaders of the grape industry in Chile believe that an important milestone will be reached. “This season, Chile will export more than 36 million boxes of grapes of new varieties. This means a growth of 14 percent, that is, 4.7 million additional boxes, which shows that varietal replacement in the industry is a reality, even more so considering the decrease in traditional varieties by 25 percent, that is, more than 10 million boxes, compared to last season”, added the organisation. The Chilean grape industry projects that of the new varieties to be exported, 48% will be red, 39% white and 13% black. Volume growth of new grape varieties is being driven by white varieties, as volume in that category is expected to increase by around 5 million boxes, from 9 to 14 million. The new red varieties continue to dominate with around 18 million boxes, but this is a very similar figure to last season. The volume of the new black varieties is estimated at 4.6 million boxes this season, which represents a decrease of approximately 7% compared to 2021/22.
United States
Increased Prices of US Green Grapes in Vietnam Due to Slight Shortage in W47
The Vietnamese market is experiencing a slight shortage of US green grapes, which has caused the price to increase significantly. The selling price from distributors to small wholesalers is more than USD 80/ctn (VND 2M/ctn) for sea-freight products though the quality is not as good as W46. On the other hand, there is a Sweet Globe from Peru available in the North of Vietnam, the selling price is USD 52/ctn (VND 1.3M/ctn).
South Africa
Good European Market Is Expected for South African Grapes Until After Christmas
The European grape market is empty, as Peru has sent more to the US. There is even a chance that Peru will displace South Africa in the Far East as well. Competition between Peru and South Africa is less direct in Europe, where the grapes are usually packed in 500 gram punnets, than in the Far East, where they are packed in 4.5 kg cartons (in the case of South Africa) and of 8.2 kg (in the case of Peru) are traded. The European market is empty, because about 40% less Peruvian and Brazilian grapes have been shipped there. In the earliest period (weeks 45 to 48), the supply mainly came from Namibia. Exports from Limpopo are currently limited due to the impact of recent rain and hail. But the grapes that are now being harvested are also more destined for local sales. The impact on later varieties should be less. The shift to the more popular mid- and late-season varieties means that Orange River now peaks about three weeks later, around week 51. "The exchange rate of the South African rand is quite good. To have a good season, we need a rate from around R 18.50 for € 1. But we're not quite there yet." The parity between the euro and the dollar has a huge impact on exporters' earnings. After all, it currently causes an increase of 8% on shipping costs. "The shipping costs are calculated in dollars, but we pay for it with fruit that we sell in euros." One small benefit is that shipping costs have not increased, although rates have a long way to go to reach pre-pandemic levels. The economic impact of shipping costs on the viability of grape farms cannot be underestimated. "Worldwide, the grape sector is in a bit of a sack and ashes, and that is largely due to logistics: ships that arrive late, etc. That must first be straightened out in order to get out of the valley."
South African Table Grapes Prices in W46 Decreased 41.67% Wow Due to High Supply
By the end of W46, table grapes in the South African domestic market were selling at USD 2.19/kg, which is a decline of 41.67% from USD 3.76/kg in W45. The drop in prices is due to increased supply from domestic producers. With the sharp decline in domestic prices, producers now focus on export markets.
South Africans Describe Peruvian Grape Competition in Asia as Fierce and Unpredictable
The growing presence of Peruvian production in the Far East has become a threat to the South African industry in that market, according to a senior industry executive. “Before it was just a sporadic headache. They are now a market force." With these words, South African Leon de Kock describes the growing presence of Peruvian grapes in the Far Eastern market. As general director of the Grape Alliance firm, which is dedicated to promoting the export of grapes produced in the main South African vine regions, the executive sees first-hand the impact of this increased competition. Quoted by the international media FreshPlaza, Kock points out that Peru ``has become fierce and unpredictable competition." Kock explains that South Africa often anticipates what will happen to Australian grapes each year, something that is not possible to know from Peru.
Turkey
Ferhat Gürüz, Chairman of the Board of the Mediterranean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters' Association, announced that the sector's exports throughout Turkey reached 239.2 million dollars in October, and that they, as the Union, supported this performance by 49%. The most exported products were mandarin, grapes and lemons. They achieved export values of 46.3 million dollars in mandarin, 39.2 million dollars in grapes and 32.8 million dollars in lemons. In the said period, Turkey exported 95 million dollars to Russia, 17.2 million dollars to Germany, and 14.9 million dollars to Ukraine. He added that Turkey's fresh fruit and vegetable exports reached the level of 2.182 billion dollars, while the exports of the Union reached the level of 968.4 million dollars.
Turkey’s Top Exports of Fresh Produce in October 2022
Turkey exported 412,855MT of fresh fruits and vegetables in October 2022. The most exported fresh produce were mandarins followed by grapes, and lemons. Mandarins were exported for USD 46.3M, a 19% decrease YoY from USD 56.9 in 2021, grapes for USD 39.2M, a 29% decrease YoY from USD 55.5M in 2021 and lemons for USD 32.8M, a 16% decrease YoY from USD 39.2M in 2021. The highest exports were to Russia, totaling USD 95M, followed by Germany at USD 17.2M and Ukraine at USD 14.9M.
Brazil
Negotiations to Begin Grape Exports From Brazil to the Chinese Market Enter the Final Phase in W47
During W47, Brazilian authorities from ABRAFRUTAS and the Ministry of Foreign Relations informed that they are in the final phase of negotiations for the opening of the Chinese market to commence exports of grapes from Brazil. The forecast is that the agreement will be closed in the first half of 2023. Producers have started studying the Chinese market to understand the demands and the main varieties. As a challenge, Brazilians will need alternatives to face long transit times, or to use air freight.
South Korea
Looking at the Price of Imported Fruit
Imported grapes, which were particularly popular in the winter, saw a significant jump in price. The price per 8 kg of grapes imported from the U.S. and Chile has increased by 22.5 percent from 40,000 won last year to 49,000 won. The rise in the price of imported fruits has been affected by the increase in the cost of imports and the sluggish consumption. The sharp rise in the dollar exchange rate, which is used in all procedures, from product purchase to transportation and storage, fueled cost increases. According to the distribution industry, the average exchange rate between September and November of this year rose 22.5% from last year's average.
Poland
Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Sales in the Polish Wholesale Market in W45-W46 Increased
As temperatures dropped, sales of bananas and mandarins increased, while demand for grapes from southern Europe decreased. Duties were imposed on Moldovan grapes, and overseas grapes are not yet being sold in the Polish market.
Russia
The Government of the Russian Federation Does Not Plan to Ban the Import of Grape Seedlings
The Government of the Russian Federation does not plan to prevent the import of grape seedlings into Russia. This was stated by Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Victoria Abramchenko during the First Russian Wine Forum. According to her, a certain reserve for imported seedlings is even provided for in the Russian Food Security Doctrine. At the same time, for the development of the production of domestic seedlings, it is important that there is a collaboration between science and business. “It is impossible to put scientific developments on a shelf so that there is no use. I would like the Ministry of Agriculture, together with the Ministry of Science and Education, to work more actively with winemakers in this project,” she said. According to the data provided by Abramchenko, in 2019, 8.3 million grape seedlings were imported into Russia from abroad. In 2022, according to her, despite the difficulties with calculations and logistics, more than 15 million seedlings were imported. "We urgently need to make appropriate decisions and give results based on the practical successes of our winemakers," the Deputy Prime Minister concluded.
