Indian grapes are fetching 50 per cent higher prices on international export markets this season compared to last, according to the Times of India.
Last year (December-April 2016/17), Indian grape prices on export markets crashed due to surplus supplies, the report said.
This season, however, the supply-demand situation is good so grape prices per kg have increased by 50 per cent.
Commenting on the rise, the Maharashtra grape grower association told the publication: “Grape exporters have received an average price of Rs60 (US$0.92) per kg in international market in the ongoing season as compared to last season’s average price of Rs 40 (US$0.62) per kg.'
Exporters have attributed the increase in demand and price to a shorter supply from India.
This season rains have reduced the Indian table grape crop, which could limit exports to Europe, Nagesh Shetty of Indian grape exporter Deccan Edibles told Fruitnet last month.
“This may give rise to better returns from Europe than last year, which were disappointingly low due to high Indian volumes and competition from other suppliers,” he said.
'We have to see what happens with Southern Hemisphere production, and some prudence by Indian exporters would help.”
Last season was one of the most difficult for Indian grape exporters due to the oversupply situation in Europe, Azhar Tambuwala, managing director of Indian exporter Seasonz International, told Fruitnet.
“Oversupply happened due to importers bringing in more fruit than they had orders for,” he said.
