Total Chilean table grape departures to all markets through week 52 have fallen by 31.2 per cent to 38,887 tonnes compared with the same date last year, according to figures from the Chilean Fruit Exporters Association (Asoex).
In his latest market report Mark Greenberg of North American importer-distributor Capespan North America said sendings to the US East Coast alone are down by 33 per cent to 28,303 tonnes, while arrivals on the West Coast have declined by 21.9 per cent to 7,938 tonnes against the year-earlier period.
Shipments to Canada are also down by 10.4 per cent to 587 tonnes, according to Asoex figures, while other markets have seen their volume contract by 39.5 per cent to 2,059 tonnes.
“The lighter loadings are the result of a number of factors including a grape crop that is running later than last season, an early Flame crop that is persistently sizing small and water shortages in some early producing sectors that has reduced production,” explained Greenberg.
“The result of the lighter loadings is a grape market where demand is not being met and selling prices remain high, especially for elusive red seedless varieties.”
Greenberg claims that Peruvian and Brazilian white seedless grapes are “cleaning up” on the market, as are the last of the Autumn Kings from California.
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