Slow UK grape market

The UK grape market is slow at the moment according to David Brown from Hars & Hagebauer. "There is not a big demand on the market but there is no big supply either, it is all just ticking over just now."

"We are fulfilling orders but don't have extra supply. Brazil is short of grapes this year."

He puts this partly down to the weather in Brazil and higher demand from the US and home markets but also because of price pressure last year on the UK market. "Prices were better on the Continent but here they were lower and with shipping costs on the increase this is affecting supply this year."

The first South African grapes won't arrive until next month and after certain areas having suffered from the recent hail storms, David reckons this will leave the market short right up to Christmas keeping prices relatively high.

As for Chile, the domestic and US market has become more profitable than the UK and Europe, according to Brown, "There are less costs involved, prices in the US are good there is the growing Chinese market. Chilean grape exporters are really being pulled in three directions and they will go for the best one. This means the UK will get less supply and prices will remain at the top end for the best fruit."

David Brown
Hars & Hagebauer
Tel: 0044 1892 839148
Email: davidb@harshagebauer.co.uk