Recently, Alejandro Cabrera, general manager of the Peruvian table grape growers and exporters association“Provid”, reported the latest Peruvian grape exports. As of March 12, Peruvian table grape exports amounted to 68.9 million boxes (8.2 kg/box), which is far from the previous forecast of 73 million boxes.

Provid's latest export forecast is 70-70.5 million boxes, an increase of about 8.5% compared to the 2021/22 production season. Currently, the northern part of Peru is in the final stage of harvesting, and the southern varieties are about to hit the market. The entire production season will end around mid-April.

Since the end of last year, strikes and large-scale protests caused by political turmoil have occurred in Peru one after another. Workers went on strike last November, severely affecting grape exports from the Piura region. Protests and road blockades in December and January this year delayed grape picking and transport in the Ica region. Combined with the cold weather in northern Peru at the beginning of the season, the grape production itself was reduced.

In the above scenario, Asian markets are the most affected, Cabrera said. Because Peruvian grapes need 30-31 days of long sea transportation to reach Asia, grape picking, transportation and export in the Ica region have been delayed. Out of consideration for fruit quality, many producers have to abandon the Asian market and turn to Shipping to the closer America, Central America or North America countries.

As of March 12, exports of Peruvian table grapes to China were down 30% and exports to South Korea were down 40%. This also has an impact on the average price of Peruvian grapes, as the export price of Peruvian grapes is highest to Asian countries.

Japan began to admit Peruvian grapes on March 22 last year, but due to the impact on Peru's export activities, it can only wait until the 2023/24 production season to start exporting to Japan. It is expected that the addition of the Japanese market will further enrich the diversity of Peruvian grape export destinations and reduce dependence on the main export destinations of the United States, the Netherlands and China.