The global production volume of fresh grapes in 2017 is an estimated 22.53 million tons. China's part of that production volume is estimated to have grown from 0.4 million tons to 11.2 million tons. China's consumption volume will reach 11.25 million tons, turning the country into a global leader of production and consumption of fresh grapes. India is second in production volume of fresh grapes.
Production, supply, and demand conditions of the world's most important fresh grape countries during 2015-2017
China
Grapes are among the favorite fruits of Chinese consumers. in south China the consumers favor the juicier grapes like Kyoho grapes. In north China the consumers prefer the more firmer Red Globe grapes. The consumer demand for high-quality, seedless varieties has increased in recent years. Furthermore, there is more profit in seedless varieties. It is for this reason that Red Globes, a grape with seeds, has largely been replaced by seedless varieties like Autumn Royal, Thompson, and Crimson.
Fresh grapes
According to a recent analysis, the production volume of fresh grapes in China reached 11.2 million tons in 2017. This is an increase of 4% in comparison with 2016. Production management improved and product quality also saw qualitative upgrades. The surface area devoted to plantations is approximately 81.2 hectares, which is slightly more than in 2016. The surface area seems to stabilize after years of rapid expansion. There are currently vineyards in every province of China. Apart from such traditional varieties as Red Globes, Kyoho, Thompson seedless, and Muscat, there are new varieties being developed all the time.
As for fresh grape trade, the import volume of fresh grapes increased with 5% in 2017 and reached a volume of 250 thousand tons; Chile, Peru, and Australia are still China's three largest suppliers of fresh grapes. They have signed free trade agreements with China that allows them to enjoy lower custom duties or even exempt them completely. The export volume of fresh grapes from China was an estimated 200 thousand tons in 2017, which is a decrease of 20% in comparison with 2016.
Source: China Grapes and Wines