Spanish exports to Asia have benefitted from the late start to US fruit deals, traders reveal.
Volumes of Spanish grapes and citrus arriving in Malaysia and Singapore have surged this year as the markets sought to fill supply gaps caused by delays to Californian fruit.
Citrus shipments from Spain to Singapore are so far up 20 per cent, one major importer said. And Spanish grape volumes to Malaysia rose above last year’s levels, according to a key importer there.
“Spanish Autumn Royal grapes were a best seller on the market because they arrived at a time when we didn’t have enough grapes to meet demand,” Martin Wong of Malaysian importer Khaishen told Fruitnet.com.
Mr Wong said this year’s rise in Spanish grape and citrus volumes showed that Spain has become an important alternative fruit source to the US in Asia.
“Spanish fruit imports definitely have huge potential to grow in Malaysia, as well as the wider Asian market,” he said. “However, Spain finishes up its season much earlier than the US, so the market window only arises at the beginning of the season if US grapes have supply or quality issues.”
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