The Brazilian table grape industry will export less volume this season as the internal market continues to perform strongly.
Sendings will be down slightly to Europe, while not much fruit will go to the US market at all, according to Entse Woude of European importer Timerfruit.
“The Brazilian internal market is strong this season,” Woude told Eurofruit. “So, following on from the good results last season, it will take a bigger volume of the crop. That means there will be a bit less volume for export.”
For the less financially strong grape growers, Woude pointed out that Brazil’s domestic market offers quick money, good prices, lower transportation costs and less risk because the quality requirements are lower than overseas. “It’s a good alternative for them,” he noted.
Added to that, the “disastrous results” in the US last year mean not so much fruit will go to the US market either, according to Woude.
“Like this year, in 2012 there was a big California grape crop,” he explained. “California is also now offering late varieties until December which is also squeezing Brazil’s supply window.”
Last year Brazil shipped 3,699 containers of table grapes up to week 51, according to Timerfruit. The UK received 884 containers of that total and northern Europe absorbed 2,176 containers.
The 2013 season has already got underway with packing starting last week. The first arrivals are due to arrive in Europe between weeks 38 and 39 or the second half of September.
Woude said that although this is an earlier-than-normal start it is not all that dissimilar to a normal Brazilian table grape season.
“Overall, I don’t think it will be a spectacular season,” Woude concluded. “Prices look set to be normal.”
With that in mind, Timerfruit is remaining conservative in its expectations for Brazilian grape imports in Europe, particularly given the delay of the European grape season.
“Cold weather in spring delayed Greek plants, so the Greek season only started a few weeks ago,” Woude explained.
“I believe that the Spanish grape season will be extended too because growers are seeing incredibly high prices against last season, plus the red seedless crop is up by 30 per cent in volume.”
Normally European wholesalers and retailers switch to Brazilian grapes in mid-October (depending on availability), according to Woude. But this season it could be as late as early November.
Looking further ahead, Woude warns that Brazil could be facing “serious difficulties” for next season.
“This season there has been no rain to date, so it’s very, very dry,” Woude said. “The water levels in the wells are very low. If there is no rain at the end of the year – November-December – exports next season could total just 10 per cent of the normal output.
“But you never know with Brazil. There could be rainfall half way through the season that changes everything.”
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