Peru has the potential to become the leading supplier of table grapes to China, according the to Chamber of Peru-China Commerce (Capechi).
The past year saw Peruvian table grape shipments to China and Hong Kong grow to 8.6m boxes valued at US$175.4m, according to Capechi’s Miguel Galvez, with exports to China increasing 84 per cent in terms of value, while exports to Hong Kong grew 148 per cent.
“The increase has been impressive … and confirm that Peru is the second largest supplier of grapes to China after Chile, which has been the leading supplier for the past 15 years,” Galvex told Peruvian publication Andina, adding that the number of Peruvian companies exporting grapes to China has also increased since import tariffs on Peruvian table grapes were eliminated from 1 January 2015.
Capechi has forecast a 15 per cent increase in China’s total grape imports from June to May 2015, with Peru forecast to export 10m boxes valued at US$200m to China in 2015.
While Capechi may be optimistic about taking over from dominant supplier Chile, traders are more cautious on the back of a season that saw poor returns for many Peruvian grape shipments to China, 98 per cent of which were Red Globe grapes.
“I think what we have seen this year, and what essentially started last year, is the new normal in China – lower prices and only the very best brands and quality achieving strong returns,” Nick Fitzpatrick, general manager of Delica South America told Fruitnet.
“Peru needs to develop more seedless offerings, and at the same time accept that they have probably planted enough Red Globe for the current global demand.”
