Dutch industry organisation GroentenFruit Huis says imports into the Netherlands have grown by 40 per cent in past decade
The volume of table grapes imported into Europe via the Netherlands increased by 40 per cent to 493,000 tonnes over the last decade, according to new research published by GroentenFruit Huis.
During the ten years to 2024, South Africa, India, and Peru all maintained their market dominance, and each increased the volume of grapes they shipped to the country to secure their share of a business worth €1.085mn.
“The grape trade is developing rapidly, and the Netherlands plays a prominent role in this,” the organisation said, noting that Dutch importers remain key facilitators when it comes to onward distribution of the fruit to customers across the continent.
“The country is a central hub for the transit of grapes to Europe and beyond. A staggering 89 per cent of imported grapes are resold to other European countries and beyond.”
The Netherlands receives a large portion of its imports from major producing countries, and takes direct delivery of 47 per cent of South Africa’s grape exports, 28 per cent of India’s, and 13 per cent of those from Peru.
Over the last decade, the group said, seedless grapes have completely taken over the market in Dutch supermarkets.
“White seedless grapes represent 53 per cent of sales, and red seedless grapes 37 per cent, while seeded grapes now make up only a small percentage of the selection,” it added.
Sales of seeded grapes have apparently fallen by more than 40 per cent in five years, further exacerbating a shift toward seedless varieties. “As a result, seeded grapes are almost completely disappearing from supermarket shelves.”
In terms of consumption, the report picked out the UK (5.3kg per person) and Germany (4.4kg per person) among the biggest grape consumers in Europe. The Netherlands itself was significantly lower, with 2.6kg per capita.
