German retailers have begun placing orders for Indian grapes, a move the south Asian country’s exporters hope signals a turnaround in the market’s attitude.
The Times of India reported the new orders come after the industry met with authorities in Berlin in February.
Around 120 containers (1,440 tonnes) of Indian grapes have been sent to the important German market so far this season, according to the Times.
“Around 90 containers have been exported directly, while the remaining 30 were sent via Rotterdam port in Netherland,” Grapes Exporters’ Association of India president Jagannath Khapare said.
While that figure is not high even against last year’s truncated exports to Germany – which accounted for more than a third of India’s total 22,571 tonnes of grape exports to Europe – India’s window in the European market has effectively only been open since the second week of April, traders told Asiafruit.
Large grape supplies from South Africa and Chile dominated the market until around Easter, but India’s slightly later season this year will extend its supply availability into May.
India’s grape exports to Germany were severely limited last season, a combination of concern in the market about chlormequat chloride component (CCC) residue levels, and a grape season low on export-quality fruit.
While no formal bans were put in place by Germany, the country’s retailers have until recently been very reluctant to buy Indian grapes because of CCC concerns, which first surfaced in 2010 and stalled India’s exports to Europe.
