Posts Tagged “Peruvian grape exports”
Between weeks 34 and 10 of the 2024-2025 campaign,
Peruvian shipped a total of 81.4 million boxes (8.2 kilos each) during the 2024-25 season representing a 31 percent increase compared to the 2023-2024 season, according to Agraria.
The Ica region is the main table grape producing region, with a 49 percent share, followed by the Piura region with 36 percent.
The Ica region shipped 40.5 million boxes of table grapes, registering a 17 percent increase compared to the previous season, and Piura exported 30 million boxes, representing a 49 percent increase compared to the 2023-2024 campaign.
The south leads exports with 52.8 percent of the total, while the north accounts for 47.2 percent.
Volumes shipped to North America increased by 30 percent, and those destined to Latin America increased by 16 percent. In contrast, shipments to Asia decreased by 35 percent compared to the 2023-2024 season,”
The Chilean/Peruvian offshore season will wrap up over the next three and one-half weeks. Grape shipments will transition to Mexican-grown product in mid- to late May. Expect pricing to increase as the offshore season continues to wind down, according to news release from Markhon of Salinas, CA.
Offshore
- The Peruvian/Chilean green and red grape seasons will end in mid-May
- Markon First Crop (MFC) Lunch Bunch Grapes will stop shipping in mid-May, but resume with Mexican product in late May
- Although stocks will tighten and markets will rise, suppliers do not expect any supply gaps between the offshore and Mexican seasons
Mexico
- MFC and Markon Essentials (ESS) Grapes will be shipped out of Mexico in late May
- Commodity supplies of Mexican green and red grapes will enter the market in mid-May
- Mexican portioned grapes become available in late May
- Expect elevated pricing as the season begins, then markets will gradually decrease
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Peru’s Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation (MIDAGRI), through the National Agrarian Health Service, announced that the 2024-2025 table grape campaign registered exports of 562,093 tons, consolidating Peru’s position as world leader in exports for the second consecutive year.
Grape exports reached 44 international markets. Three key markets accounted for 83%: the United States with 46% share, European countries (24%) and Mexico (8%). Other important markets included the United Kingdom, Spain, Canada, Hong Kong, Colombia, China and Taiwan.
Peru’s export season runs from October to April of the following year. The country has more than 56 varieties of table grapes, the most exported being Sweet Globe, Red Globe, and Allison, which are also the most demanded in the international market.
A few weeks before the end of the export season, SENASA authorized 137 packing plants and certified more than 22,000 hectares of crops, mainly in the regions of Ica and Piura, followed by Lambayeque, La Libertad, Arequipa, and other regions such as Ancash, Lima, Moquegua, Tacna and Cajamarca.
In recent years, SENASA has gained access to Japan, China, and Ecuador in a joint effort with the Association of Table Grape Producers (PROVID), adding to the 92 international markets that already enjoy these Peruvian products.
The first of four break bulk cargo ships from Peru’s Port of Paracas arrived in Philadelphia at the Port of Gloucester in New Jersey January 16. In a historic milestone, the boat transported shipments of Peruvian table grapes.
The accomplishment came due to SENASA of Peru and the USDA which is a breakthrough, resulting the Peruvian industry have a new alternative to ship fruit in containers.
SENSA pointed out this had never been done from Peru. It came about due to a long term coordinated effort with SENASA, PROVID (the table grape association), the shipping companies, and the ports to achieve this operation in break bulk ships.
This type of transportation is more efficient, when considering the global container shortage, where a demand that exceeds the inventory creates substantial congestion in container terminals.
Break bulk ships arrive at private terminals which are less congested, thus avoiding the congestion at other terminals. This results in fruit being unloaded faster.
A second ship is on its way from Peru to the U.S., a third is about to sail, and the fourth is ready to leave the week of January 20-24.
The first vessel arrived in Philadelphia carrying 3,876 pallets and 76 containers of grapes.
The second, third, and fourth vessels will deliver 4,500 pallets and 100 containers each. Break bulkHe favors Peruvian grape exports to the United States, especially during the winter in the northern hemisphere, when operations become longer and congestion at ports builds up.
This permits ships to bypass the line and avoid the 7 to 10-day congestion delays in the ports today.
Peruvian table grapes are among the fastest-growing industries, increasing from 400,000 metric tons (MT) in 2019-2020 to 622,000 MT in 2022-2023.
In this context, market research firm Fluctuante recently published a report on agro-exports, analyzing the current state of the industry in Peru.
The report indicates that in the 2023-2024 campaign, table grape exports slightly declined to 525,000 MT due to heavy rains and high temperatures affecting fruit quality. Despite the downturn, Peru remains the world’s largest exporter of table grapes.
Meanwhile, China significantly increased its exports, reaching 490,000 MT in 2023-2024. South Africa maintained a stable share, while Chile’s exports decreased from 496,000 MT to 480,000 MT over the same period.
The Peruvian Table Grape Producers Association (Provid) projects record exports for the 2024-2025 season, estimating more than 78 million boxes of 8.2 kg each, equivalent to approximately 640,000 MT.
Provid highlighted that this volume represents a 25.4% increase over the previous season, driven by production recovery along the north coast and the introduction of new, higher-yield varieties.
Peruvian grapes are primarily destined for the United States, Europe, Latin America, and China.
David Sandoval, general manager of Fluctuante, pointed out that Peru has transitioned from an emerging exporter to a global leader in the table grape market.
He explained that the industry’s growth began in the 1980s with initial Red Globe exports, but “it was in the last decade that the country solidified its position through crop expansion, varietal innovation, and strategic trade agreements.”
Sandoval noted that Peru achieved a milestone during the 2022-2023 season by exporting 585,000 tons, accounting for 16% of the global market and surpassing long-standing competitors.
“For the 2024-2025 campaign, we expect a new record of 640,000 tons, driven by production recovery and the introduction of seedless varieties like Sweet Globe and Autumn Crisp,” he said.
Peruvian table grape exports reach more than 50 international markets. The primary destinations include the United States, Europe, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
Latin American markets, such as Mexico and Brazil, also play a significant role. In Asia, China is a growing market for Peruvian grapes.
Sandoval remarked that in December 2024, the industry successfully exported grapes cold-treated in shipholds for the first time in South America.
“The shipment, consisting of 4,000 pallets—nearly 200 containers—departed from the Port of Paracas bound for the United States. This logistical innovation aims to improve efficiency and quality in the supply chain,” he said.
A 17 percent increase in Peruvian grape exports for 2024-25 are forecast to reach a record of 620,000 metric tons, compared with the previous year.
The U.S. was Peru’s top export destination in 2023-24 with exports reaching 244,000 metric tons (up 3% from the previous season), followed by the Netherlands with 70,000 metric tons (up 7%) and Mexico with 45,000 metric tons (up 21%).
An annual deciduous fruit report on Peru from the USDA estimates that grape production will total 790,000 metric tons in 2024-25, up 2% from the previous season.
In early November 2023, Peru’s newly refurbished Port in Pisco started to serve both Ica and Arequipa regions with weekly express services, the USDA said. The Pisco Port connects Ica with the U.S. via a trans-shipment hub in Panama (to Savannah, Philadelphia and Los Angeles), Manzanillo (Mexico), Vancouver (Canada) and northern Europe (Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and Amberes, France).
Transit days on average will be 12 days to Philadelphia, 18 days to Mexico, 22 days to Los Angeles, 20 days to Rotterdam and 30 days to Vancouver, the report said.
The 2023-24 growing season was seriously affected by unusual weather conditions — such as heavy rains and high temperatures — that resulted in a lower harvest. Production in the north of the country (Piura, Lambayeque and La Libertas) was severely affected, the report said.
This year, the USDA said the expected increase in grape production is due to better yields in northern Peru (Piura), which was severely hit by an extremely hot winter and heavy rains last season.
Peru’s table grape production area stretches from north to south along the Pacific Ocean, the report said. Peru’s five most popular grape varieties for export are Sweet Globe (22%), red globe (16%), Autumn Crisp (14%), Allison (7%) and Sweet Celebration (5%). Currently, 75% of table grapes are licensed, and 25% are traditional non-licensed varieties.
Grape production is mainly located in Ica (49%) and Piura (37%), the report said. Other relevant areas are Lambayeque (6%), La Libertad (5%) and Arequipa (3%). The total area under cultivation is estimated at 87,522 acres, and the harvesting season in Peru begins in October and ends in April with a north-to-south harvest pattern. With innovative technological advances, table grape production in Piura can harvest twice a year, once in March/April and again in November/December, the report said.
U.S. retailers are focused on table grape imports and fruit in cold storage as the domestic harvest period has come to an end and shipments are now coming in from Peru, Chile, Brazil, and South Africa, according to a report by San Lucar.
Peru
With Piura already over, Ica is now in full export season. From early April up to late December, 41,014,134 total 18 pound boxes have been shipped being the most exported White seedless (46%; 19,055,266 boxes), Red Seedless (25%; 10,215,686 boxes), Red Globe (17%; 7,066,089 boxes) and Black seedless (5%; 1,863,095 boxes).
Of these exports, 56% are destined for the U.S., 10% to Latin America, 24% to Europe, and 9% to Asian markets.
Even though Peru is expected to export fewer grapes this season year-on-year, until week 51 of 2023, the country had exported 23% more than the same period last year.
Brazil
The export period out of Brazil lasted until week 52, the last of 2023. The South American country exported a total of 5,473 containers. Of the total volume, 3,923 of the containers were shipped into the EU and 1,453 into the U.S.A.
Chile
Reports out of Chile show that shipments to the U.S. started four weeks earlier than last season and unit week 51 of 2023, it had already exported 1,279,642 boxes.
As of the first week of November, Peruvian grape exports to the U.S. totaled 10,295 tons, up 33 percent from 2022. The leading Peruvian exporters at this point are Ecosac Agrícola S.A.C., with 16 percent, and Sociedad Agrícola Rapel S.A.C., with 9 percent.
Also as of the first week of November, Peruvian grape shipments totaled 26,581 tons, 12 percent more than the same week last year.
With this, to date, shipments have already reached 111,521 tons, which has placed this season 54 percent ahead of last year, as reported by freshfruit.pe.
The early November totals revealed product was exported to 32 destinations, of which 3 accounted for 67 percent of all shipments. These were the U.S. with 39 percent of the volume, followed by the Netherlands with 20 percent, and the UK with 9 percent.
Shipments to the Netherlands totaled 5,246 tons, which was 22 percent higher than the same week last year. The leading Peruvian exporters were Ecosac Agrícola S.A.C., with 27 percent, and Pura Fruit Company S.A.C., with 8 percent.
To the UK, shipments of Peruvian grapes totaled 2,376 tons, which meant an increase of 2 percent compared to 2022. The most prominent exporters were Sociedad Agrícola Rapel S.A.C., with 19 percent, and Ecosac Agrícola S.A.C., with 18 percent.
The Peruvian Producers and Exporters Association (Provid) forecasts a 9 percent decline in grape exports for the 2023-24 season. If the prediction holds this would amount to about 65 million 18-pound boxes.
As of November 1, Peru had exported 14 million boxes, about 28% of the total projection. Some 38 percent of Peruvian grapes are exported to the U.S.
Provid blames most of the decline on adverse weather including El Niño Costero, resulting in heavy rains and flooding in Peru’s northern coastal regions.
There also was cyclone Yaku which brought similar conditions to Tumbes, Piura and Lambayeque, some of the main producing regions in the country.
The U.S. continues to be the leading destination for Peruvian grapes, in part because the U.S. domestic production is currently lower than expected.
The first table grapes of the 2023-2024 Peruvian season should start in September, when the campaign normally starts in October, according to Agraria. This will be an earlier started compared to a year ago.
Cyclone Yaku in March resulted a lot of rainfall. which generated the proliferation of fungi in the vine plants on the northern Peruvian coast, which would cause a lower production of fruit in that area of the country.
A different situation can be seen in the Ica region, where the heat caused the bud to improve and advances the vegetative development of the fruit, so earlier grapes and higher production are also expected.
As Ica is the main producing region of table grapes in Peru and a higher production is projected, it is expected that the production (and export) of table grapes by Peru in the 2023-2024 campaign will be higher than the previous campaign.
There will be fewer table grapes in the North.
From January to mid-July of this year, table grape exports from Peru grew in volume 16 percent (close to 45,000 more tons) compared to the same period in 2022.