Peru
Export Performance of Peruvian and Chilean Grapes (Feb 7)
According to the iQonsulting team, Peru exported 416K MT of grapes, an increase of 6% compared to last season, despite a delay in the harvest due to political unrest and riots in Ica, the main growing region. The export of Peruvian grapes could therefore have been even higher. Chile exported a total of 3.1M, 8.2 kg cartons up to and including W3. That is 25% less than last year. Of these, 38% red was seedless, 54% green seedless, 5% black seedless and the traditional Red Globe variety accounted for 2%. Peru achieved USD 3.50/kg in W4 for white seedless grapes, USD 3.40/kg for red seedless and USD 2.40/kg for Red Globe. In Europe, India achieved the highest price at USD 3.20/kg (€ 3) for white seedless grapes.
Peruvian Table Grape Exports Down Due to Blockades (Feb 9)
In the first four months (October-January) of the Peruvian table grape campaign, exports reached 432K MT, representing a reduction of 0.5% compared to the same period the previous campaign, Fernando Cilloniz Benavides, president of Inform@ccion told Agraria. The drop is due to blockades in January and is not crop related, he said. Grape shipments in the first four months of the 2022/23 campaign were as follows: October 45.58K MT (34.93K MT in the same month of the previous campaign); November 104.57K MT (96.93K MT); December 159.60K MT (162.83K MT); January 122.30K MT (137.60K MT).
Protest in Peru Disrupt the Canadian Grape Market During in February (Feb 10)
As of W6, the Peruvian protests have been ongoing for almost three weeks. The export volume of Peruvian grapes to the East Coast of Canada will decrease significantly towards the end of February. There is still fruit left to harvest in Peru, but due to the protests, many operations across the country have shut down. Importers are waiting and beginning to search for alternative sources to fulfill contracts and market demand.
Italy
Italian Fruit Fly Abroad (Feb 8)
Italian exports of fresh and processed fruit and vegetables exceed the 10 billion euro mark for the first time thanks to an 8% increase, despite the difficulties linked to the increase in costs linked to the war in Ukraine but also to the effects of climatic changes which have penalized above all the fresh sector. Italy is the European leader in exports of grapes with 463K MT of product for a value of USD 846.57M (794M euros). Germany represents the first outlet market for Made in Italy fruit and vegetables followed by France and Great Britain.
Chile
ASOEX Strengthens Relations and Advances in Better Logistics for Chilean Fruit Exports (Feb 6)
An intense schedule of activities is being carried out by the Association of Fruit Exporters of Chile AG (ASOEX) in the United States, the main destination -in terms of volume- of the country's fresh fruit exports, and where the representatives of the entity union have held important meetings to strengthen relations and advance better logistics for shipments of fresh fruit from Chile. Such is the case of the meeting with the directors of Holt Logistics and Western Fumigation in Philadelphia. "As ASOEX we are focused on improving the logistical conditions for the shipments of our fruits, both nationally and internationally. This thinking that last season we had knots that affected our shipments. That is why we have met with representatives of Holt Logistics and Western Fumigation, with whom we have analyzed the development of the current fruit season in Chile and those actions that have been improved for a good arrival process of our fruits, especially for species such as table grapes and blueberries that have their main destination in the United States. We are also talking about the higher volumes that are being displayed for fruits such as cherries, which this season have grown by 58%”, pointed out Iván Marambio. During the 2021/22 season, Chile shipped 791,157MT of Chilean fresh fruits to the United States, reflecting a 2% growth compared to the previous year. The main fruits shipped to the US market are: table grapes (38% of the total), tangerines (14%), oranges (11%), blueberries (7%), apples (6%), clementine and lemons with 5%, respectively.
China
Chinese Fruit Exports Were Down 8% In Volume and 15% In Value Compared to 2021 (Feb 6)
According to a recently published report by the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Food Products, Indigenous Products and Animal By-Products, China's fruit imports continued an upward trend in 2022 despite being the toughest year for the fruit trade since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. China saw a further decline in its fruit shipments in 2022, making it the third consecutive year of declines. In 2022, China's fruit exports were down 8% in volume and 15% in value, compared to 2021, with figures reaching 3.26M MT and USD 4.6B. Chinese table grape exports in 2022 reached 377K MT, up 8% Yo, with a value of USD 730M, down 4% YoY. The main overseas markets were concentrated in Southeast Asia, especially Thailand (110K MT, +26.4% YoY), Vietnam (101K MT, +46.4% YoY), Indonesia (66K MT, +8, 2% YoY) and the Philippines (36K MT, -33.3% YoY), along with nearby Bangladesh (25K MT, -39% YoY).
South African Grapes Quickly Sold Out During W6 in the Guangzhou, China Market (Feb 11)
On February 10th, a container from South Africa arrived at the Guangzhou fruit market. The container had two mixed varieties of grapes; Crimson seedless and Black grapes. The product showed good quality, with good bloom, color, firmness, and taste. In W6, the selling price for the Crimson variety was around USD 22.03-23.50/4.5kg carton (RMB 150-160), and Black grapes ranged at USD 20.56/4.5kg cartoon (RMB 140). All the supply was sold out on February 10th.
First Batch of Australian Grapes Arrives to the Guangzhou Market During W6 (Feb 11)
During the end of W6, the first batch of Australian grapes of the season arrived at the Guangzhou market. The batch contained the Sweet sapphire variety, and the quality was overall good, with nice bloom, color, and firmness, but due to the early season, the taste was a bit bitter. The selling price was around USD 113.82-116.74 (RMB 780-800), and it all sold out.
Spain
Aid to Compensate the Sectors Affected by the War in Ukraine (Feb 6)
The Official Gazette of the Valencian Community (DOCV) published, on February 3, the Order approving the regulatory bases of urgent support measures for farmers and ranchers in the sectors especially affected by the situation generated by the crisis of the invasion of Ukraine, within the framework of the Rural Development Program of the Valencian Community 2014-2020. The Ministry has activated this second special package worth USD 5.86M (5.5M euros) for farms in the fruit sector, especially the cultivation of persimmon, medlar, stone fruit (peach, plum, apricot, nectarine and cherry) and table grapes . In this way, the aid joins others that the Ministry of Agriculture already allocated in 2022 to citrus growers and part of the livestock sector for a value of USD 26.66M (25M euros), in the framework of a conflict that has affected the entire agricultural sector.
Australia
Australia’s Magenta Seedless Grape Harvest Will Start by the End of W6 (Feb 7)
Magenta Seedless grapes will be ready to harvest by the end of W6. The color is 95% red with a size above 20mm. The brix grade is 16+ and they will be packed in bunch bags, 10/box. FOB pricing of seedless grapes in Australia in W6 stood at USD 25/9kg (AUD 36/9kg).
Canada
Extreme Cold Snap Causes ‘Devastating’ Damage to Nova Scotia Vineyards (Feb 10)
The president of the Grape Growers Association of Nova Scotia says it will take years for vineyards to recover from the recent extreme cold snap. Steve Ells says between 95 and 100% of Nova Scotia-grown vinifera variety grapes, used for Chardonnays, Pinot noirs and Rieslings, were lost because of the extreme cold. Ells says the level of damage is the worst he’s seen in his 12 years in the business.