India expects to export around 3,000-3,400 containers of grapes this season, weather permitting – a similar volume to last year’s 3,200 containers, according to Chaitanya Rajwade of grower-shipper Mahindra & Mahindra.
Harvesting of the Thompson Seedless crop from the main growing region of Maharashtra state began in the first week in February – the same time as usual, and fruit quality is looking good.
“This year quality across the grape growing region in Maharashtra state, which produces 90 per cent of India’s crop, looks excellent,” said Mr Rajwade. “The state enjoyed a milder winter, which has led to good size berry development.”
Once cooled, packed and loaded, grapes take 21-25 days to arrive by sea to Europe – India’s key grape export market, with first consignments typically arriving on the continent from early March (week 10).
This season, Indian grape shippers face two key challenges in the European market, according to Mr Rajwade: namely the credit crunch and greater volumes of Chilean grapes.
“Europe and the UK are in recession, so consumption patterns are dwindling and exchange rates have taken a big hit,” he said. “And increasing supplies from competing grape-producing countries, such as Chile, make India’s export success in Europe uncertain.”
With Chile poised to export a plentiful grape crop to Europe, there is a danger early-season Indian grapes will enter a fully supplied EU market when shipments begin to arrive in March, Geoff Green of leading European importer Capespan told Fruitnet.
Marketing channels are likely to be full of peak-season Chilean volumes by then, he said, since a sizeable Chilean deal looks set to start later than usual, and the switch from poor to abundant supply in Europe will create volume and price pressure.
“Europe has had a difficult two months of low grape availability from South Africa (between December and February),” he said. “When Chilean grapes finally come in at the end of February, a lot of grapes will be pushed through in a short time and naturally prices will have to come down from current above-average levels. It is unlikely Indian grapes will come onto a short market.”
But by mid-April – the traditional Chile-India transition period and a time of peak Indian grape arrivals – retail channels should have cleared.
“There’s a good chance that with some steam behind them, Chile will get through their volumes before the main Indian grape crop arrives. Easter falling in mid-April is very positive for grape sales too,” said Mr Green.
“Chile will be careful towards the end of their season (early-to-mid April). The Chileans are well aware of the dangers of shipping into the Indian season in Europe. They were badly affected last year because of Indian volumes pushing down prices.”
