Peruvian grape volumes to Asia are set to more than double their 2008/09 record this season as grower-shippers direct their ever-increasing production to emerging markets, a leading exporter suggests.
Red Globe exports to Peru's main Asian markets China and Hong Kong rose by 50 per cent in 2009/10 compared to the prior year, and that growth rate is expected to continue into the 2010/11 season, according to Lima-based exporter Tallo de Oro.
At the same time, exports to Peru's traditional grape export markets the US and the European Union are static or declining, the firm says.
This trend is down to exporters seeking out new and emerging markets as Peru's production continues to expand, Tallo de Oro's Rosa Villacorta Rath tells Fruitnet.com.
'Exporters are diversifying destination countries to prevent Peruvian table grapes being dumped on a single market and driving down prices. This is clearly seen in the fact that increasingly more exports go to Asia instead of the United States or Europe,' she says.
In 2008/09, Peru's total grape exports rose 38 per cent in volume terms and 50 per cent in value over the previous season, according to Tallo de Oro's figures. This forthcoming 2010/11 season, Peruvian grape production is expected to be up by a further 30 per cent compared to 2009/10 levels.
However, shipments to the EU are forecast to fall for the second year running, and exports to the US are set to remain steady, Ms Rath says.
The EU's share of Peruvian grape exports dropped from 38 per cent in 2008/09 to 29 per cent in 2009/10 due to the economic crisis, meanwhile the US' percentage share rose from 25 per cent to 28 per cent, and Russia's almost doubled from 4.5 per cent to 10 per cent, she adds. Peru's Asian markets, which include Indonesia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Cambodia, in addition to Hong Kong and China, absorbed 17 per cent of total Peruvian exports.
Tallo de Oro claims that Peru exported 9,000 tonnes of Red Globe grapes to Hong Kong and 3,000 tonnes to China at a value of US$22.5m andUS$7m respectively in 2009/10.
China and Russia are gaining importance for Peruvian grape exporters, and South Korea and the Middle East have been identified as having export potential, Ms Rath says.
Red Globe accounts for 80 per cent of Peru's table grape exports, with Thompson and Crimson Seedless making up the rest.
Harvesting this season is expected to begin in mid-November, meaning grapes will arrive in Asia by late December and in plenty of time to meet Chinese New Year sales, according to Ms Rath.
