In the 2021/22 season, global table grape exports reached a record 4.3 million tonnes, supported by recovering volumes in Chile and India, continued growth in exports from Peru, and increased production in South Africa and Turkey. Such data are given in the report of Rabobank experts.
However, despite the improvement in production conditions, Rabobank notes that labor and logistics challenges remain in major producing countries, with longer lead times in most supply chain segments leading to ongoing quality issues in destination markets.
Exports to China, which has the highest per capita consumption among major destination markets, declined in the 2021/22 season due to logistical and production issues. However, supply in China should continue to rise as the increase in production should more than offset lower imports and higher exports.
In contrast, per capita consumption in the EU is on a downward trend. While non-EU imports have increased by 4% year-on-year over the past ten seasons, domestic production has declined at a faster rate.
In the US, per capita consumption is expected to pick up marginally as domestic production and exports eased slightly and imports picked up during the California off-season.
According to the FAS USDA, the consumption of table grapes in Russia in the 2021/22 season (June-May) increased to 400 thousand tons compared to the 2021/22 season (369 thousand tons). Of the 400 thousand tons, most of it was imported (380 thousand tons), according to this indicator, Russia ranks third in the world after the US and the EU.
Logistics will remain an important deterrent next season. The refrigerated container imbalance will be a major problem for Southern Hemisphere fresh fruit exports in the coming season, the report said. In addition, no significant reduction in shipping rates is expected in 2022/23.
Against the background of these problems, patented varieties give cause for optimism, according to Rabobank experts. These grape varieties, already the norm in the US and UK, are increasing their share of Southern Hemisphere shipments, accounting for more than 70% of exports from South Africa and Peru and 60% of exports from Chile. In addition, competition between suppliers of patented seedless varieties is expected to intensify as imports to the EU, the largest importer of table grapes, continue to rise.
