The 2012 Brazilian table grape import deal in Europe is anticipated to start one month earlier than last year, according to a major importer.
Entse van der Woude of Dutch importer Timerfruit estimates that the first consignments will arrive on the European market at the beginning of October.
“There’s a lot of demand already for Crimson,” he told Eurofruit. “Interestingly, there is also demand for white seedless grapes, especially from the UK retailers who are not so happy with the Greek crop.
“By mid-October we expect the majority of grapes on the market will switch over to Brazil whereas last year it didn’t happen until the first week of November.”
Last year, Brazilian grapes only became available in Europe during the first week of November as a result of the extended availability of European production.
Van der Woude also believes that this year’s Brazilian grape exports to Europe will be the same or slightly less than in 2011 given the continued strength of the local market in Brazil.
“There is a very, very strong local market and sometimes extremely high prices for Crimson in particular,” he explained.
“However prices will go down as more volume comes on stream over the next eight weeks.”
In the future, however, he warned that there will “definitely” be less volume exported from Brazil to the European market.
“Costs are up again this year – labour costs are up a lot and freight rates have risen even more,” he explained.
“Europe is becoming a less favourable market and in the future Brazil will look to other markets with better prices.”
Timerfruit is expecting “very nice quality and volume” from Brazil this year as the company continues to strengthen its supply programme with the South American country.
The group expects to increase its volume across the board, including Crimson, Sugraone, Festival and Thompson Seedless.
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