The grape production season in Binchuan, Yunnan, China, is underway and large quantities are now on the market.
Mr. Zhang Yunxin from Binchuan Lvzhiyuan Agricultural Development Co., Ltd., which specializes in local specialty fruits, explained, "Due to low production early in the season, especially for Shine Muscat grapes, the prices were better than last year, but they quickly fell. Currently, market demand both domestically and internationally is relatively weak, and sales are not as strong as expected."
Binchuan is a prime grape production area. This year, the weather has been favourable with moderate rainfall, resulting in stable yield, quality, and taste for the grapes.
"The purchase price of premium Binchuan red grapes is currently ￥7-7.2/kg, similar to previous years, but fewer traders are purchasing, leading to slow sales. For high-volume varieties such as red grapes and Crimson, prices have not dropped sharply, but there is no upward momentum, and traders are very cautious."
"On the other hand, the market for Shine Muscat grapes is slightly better. Early in the season, the purchase price was over ￥20/kg, and now it ranges from about ￥13-￥18/kg depending on quality, slightly lower than in previous years. Good quality green grapes can still fetch good prices and there is export demand, but fewer grapes meet the necessary requirements in terms of Brix or ripeness."
"Some niche varieties have a good market due to their taste and low yields. For instance, Queen Nina grapes maintain strong prices. Due to the difficulty of growing them, some growers have switched to other varieties, resulting in lower yields and easier sales. Another variety, Sweet Sapphire, has higher yields and better prices than Queen Nina, but it is prone to dropping off and does not store or transport well. Binchuan is also trialling some new grape varieties."
Regarding the export market, Mr. Zhang noted, "Overseas market consumption is not as strong as in previous years, and we expect export volumes to decrease this year."
"The grape production season in Binchuan can extend to late September and early October, with grapes ripening in batches. As production increases, the market may continue to decline for a while. To mitigate risks, we are currently operating based on customer orders and avoiding large-scale trading. Many grape traders are adopting similar strategies this year."
Binchuan Lvzhiyuan Agricultural Development Co., Ltd. deals primarily in grapes, mandarin oranges, pomegranates, walnuts, and other products, with sales channels both offline and online, and exports to Vietnam and other regions.
For more information:
Zhang Yunxin