According to the report for the month of June 2012 the Department of Agriculture of the United States, USDA, the world production of table grapes for the period 2011/12 is almost half a million tons higher than last year, estimated at about 16.5 million. China would be the most responsible for this growth market.
As for trade in table grapes, this is also slightly higher than the previous period, reaching 2.4 million tons, with the largest exports done from markets in the U.S., China and Hong Kong, offset, according to the USDA report by the reduction of Chile and Mexico.
China continues to expand its production as farmers switch to more profitable crops. In this Asian market consumption growth has exceeded production, stimulating an increase of more than 40% of imports to an estimated 168,000 tons, mainly of grapes from South Africa and Peru. But exports have also increased due to a
strong demand from Thailand and Vietnam, given the improvement in quality.
Meanwhile U.S. production fell slightly to an estimated 897,000 tons, given the previous weather conditions cold and wet in the spring in California. Regarding imports, the USDA document indicates that these also remained low after Chile´s loss in production. While exports increased to 347,000 tons as a result of the elimination of the tariff retaliation by Mexico.
Chile´s production is estimated to tend to decrease slightly, resulting in a reduction of exports in some European markets, by giving priority to those most profitable.
The USDA notes that Chile is the fifth largest producer of grapes, and the dominant exporter, accounting for approximately third of all global trade.
The document clarifies that imports from Indonesia are 20% higher, reaching 60,000 tons primarily due to the increased shipments from Chile and China. Consumption has more than doubled in the last five years as the population grows and incomes rise.
In Argentina, production is estimated about 25 percent lower, reaching 110,000 tons, after the frost that affected the neighboring country in late spring. Exports are estimated to be under 20 percent, due to the reduction of exportable supplies and also to the limitations imposed by markets such as Brazil.
The European Union consumption continues to outpace production, estimated at an increase in imports, reaching 580,000 tons, mainly coming from Chile and South Africa.
Source: Simfruit