Global grape markets are seeing a range of developments as seasonal transitions and shifting export dynamics shape supply. In North America, Mexico's harvest is aligning smoothly with Chilean imports, while in the Netherlands, reduced Indian volumes are arriving more gradually than last year.
Italy continues to supply grapes year-round through imports, with domestic production expected to begin in mid-May. In Spain, demand is up by 10–15%, and a temporary supply gap is anticipated in early May. Germany reports stable demand, with South Africa as the dominant supplier, while in France, South African grapes remain the majority on shelves, though prices are slightly higher due to freight costs.
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South Africa closes its season on a high with strong quality, despite increased global competition. Egypt is set for an early harvest with a focus on premium export varieties. Peru celebrates a record-breaking season, though some markets report softer prices.
Chile is facing falling revenues due to oversupply, despite better fruit quality. Brazil's harvest is disrupted by rain and labor shortages, limiting export potential. India's shorter season is progressing smoothly, with high prices driven by strong demand. In China, imported grapes have risen ahead of the Qingming Festival, led by Chilean Autumn Crisp varieties.
North America: Grape supply transition expected to run smoothly
A comfortable overlap is anticipated as North American grape-growing regions transition in late April. Chilean imports are expected to supply the market through most of April into May.
Meanwhile, Mexico's Jalisco district began grape production this month, creating a smooth transition between the two growing regions. Other producing areas in Mexico are set to start harvesting in the second or third week of May, with timing similar to recent seasons.
The Mexican crop looks good overall, though green grapes may be in shorter supply—still remaining promotable. Quality appears strong across all colors of Mexican grapes.
Demand is steady, particularly for high-quality grapes. Newer varieties, especially green ones, continue to drive consumption. However, there is some uncertainty around potential tariffs and their impact on fresh produce, particularly grapes. If tariffs reach 25 percent, retail prices are expected to rise. Currently, the price of imported grapes is lower than it was at this time last year.
Netherlands: Steadier indian grape sales due to delayed volume
"The sales season for Indian grapes has started off much better than last year," says a Dutch importer. "At the start of the season, there was quite a bit of rain in India, which resulted in lower yields per hectare. The local Indian market is demanding its usual volumes, making it more difficult for exporters to send large volumes abroad. Additionally, the high local prices increase the risk for exporters. While there is still a solid volume of Indian grapes coming to Europe, it's significantly less than last year. During these weeks last year, there was a huge peak in supply, but this year, the grapes are arriving much more gradually. Prices for Indian grapes range between 10 and 12 EUR for clamshells and between 9 and 11 EUR for 4.5 kg boxes. The grapes aren't completely trouble-free in terms of quality, but they are slightly better than last year."
Meanwhile, South Africa is in the final phase of its season. The supply mainly consists of red seedless and Autumn Crisp varieties. South Africa has had a pretty decent grape season. There was a period when there was an oversupply of loose grapes in all colors on the market, but the price of punnets has not dropped throughout the season. The first Chilean grapes are now arriving as well. A larger volume will be coming to Europe since the North American market is oversupplied. We can expect more grapes from Chile to arrive in the course of April.
Italy: Year-round table grape supply through imports and local production
Table grape consumption in Italy is practically year-round, with almost no seasonal adjustment. During the summer and fall months, Italian-grown grapes are in the spotlight, while in winter and spring, counter-seasonal overseas products dominate supermarket shelves. This is according to the sales manager of a large company in northern Italy. Depending on the time of year, the company imports seedless grapes from Peru, South Africa, Chile, and Egypt. At the moment, more products are arriving from Peru. These imported grapes are seedless and available in white, red, and black varieties. The company focuses exclusively on premium products that align with current Italian consumer preferences. The most popular packaging format remains the 500-gram open-top tray. Prices are currently in line with expectations, although the market is being influenced by the large influx of Indian grapes entering the European market.
In Italy, it is still too early to discuss domestic table grape production. In Sicily, an entrepreneur involved in both orange and grape farming notes that conditions are favourable for a high-quality campaign. However, the first bunches are not expected until May 15, with traditional varieties such as Victoria, Black Magic, and ARRA30 (seedless). A more abundant supply is expected from the beginning of June. The seeded varieties Victoria and Black Magic, which cover the period from May to August, are expected to perform well commercially. The seedless ARRA30 variety will be available from late May through late September. "The trend puts seedless grapes in pole position. Abroad, large retailers are no longer ordering traditional grapes because of their poor shelf life," says the entrepreneur.
Spain: Strong local demand and expected supply gap in early May
Since February, there has been stability in both volumes and prices for imported grapes in Spain, although volumes are now slightly lower. South African grapes will end in the coming 10 days. This year, Chile has also started earlier, so it will end around 3 to 4 weeks earlier than normal, causing a supply gap in early May until Egypt begins sending significant volumes. That is why Spanish companies are storing products to try to have supplies during the expected gap period. Table grape companies report very high consumption this year in the Spanish market, with an increase of 10–15% from the previous year, which indicates that grapes are becoming more and more popular each year in this country. The first harvests with significant volumes will start at the end of June in Murcia. The abundant rains, followed by sunny and warmer days, have been beneficial for the crops so far.
Germany: Grape market sees dominant supply from one source amid stable demand
South African batches clearly dominated the German market. Although deliveries from Peru and Chile increased slightly, they remained supplementary in nature. Indian supplies, particularly Thompson Seedless, gained in importance. Imports from Namibia occasionally disappeared from the market.
The steady but not overly strong demand was easily met. Due to the wide range of varieties and inconsistent quality, South African offerings showed a fairly broad price range. Overall, however, prices remained within their previous levels and were slightly to significantly lower than during the same period last year.
France: Imported grapes led by South African supply
There are still a few months to go before the start of the French campaign (August). Meanwhile, on the French market, imported grapes are still present on the shelves, currently mostly from South Africa, with smaller quantities from Peru and a few from Italy. The varieties currently available are Red Globe and White Seedless in 500g punnets. Demand remains stable and regular throughout the year, with consumption unaffected by the weather, according to the operator. Prices, meanwhile, are slightly more expensive than in previous years due to higher freight costs.
South Africa: Export season ends on a high despite shifting global grape demand
As the grape season winds down, Western Cape farmers are breathing a sigh of relief: not a drop of rain fell on their grapes during harvest, nor were there any repeat hailstorms like those experienced over the past three years. In fact, the Orange River, Olifants River, Hex River, and Berg River regions all exceeded their season estimates, except for Crimson, which yielded lighter volumes this year.
Quality and shelf life were reported as exceptional. Minimal extra labour was needed in packhouses to trim and clean bunches, which allowed for swift processing—sometimes too swift, due to the high number of windbound hours at the port of Cape Town during February.
The Grape Industry notes in its latest newsletter that there were more grapes than usual on the European market during the Southern Hemisphere export season. "This was mostly due to a large increase in volumes shipped to the EU from Peru (+44%) earlier in the season (November and December)." The industry body adds that the presence of Peruvian grapes in Europe is increasingly creating competition during the local peak season.
Last year, the grape market in the United States was "fantastic," according to an exporter. However, this year it became oversupplied by shipments from Peru, Chile, and South Africa.
Meanwhile, grape imports have become more expensive for Russian buyers, and there has been a noticeable slackening in demand from Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and China. A lack of XL berries from certain areas shifted exports back toward traditional markets in the UK and the European Union.
Domestically, late-season grapes were selling for R25.25 (1.2 EUR) per kilogram.
Egypt: Early grape season begins with focus on export varieties
The Egyptian table grape season is scheduled to start at the beginning of May. Table grape acreage in Egypt has remained relatively stable, with moderate increases in certain regions due to growing export demand. The slight expansion concerns particularly modern farms focusing on export grades, while rising production costs and water management challenges have slowed aggressive expansion.
Production conditions were generally favorable. One grower says, "Temperature variations in early spring had a minor impact on flowering and fruit sets in some regions. Phytosanitary conditions are being closely monitored, and growers are adopting stricter pest and disease management protocols, particularly with regard to powdery mildew and mealybugs."
The early start to the season, a new feature in recent years, has become the norm. One grower says, "The grape season is scheduled to start at the beginning of May. Initially, there were fears of slight delays due to weather changes, but most indications suggest that the harvest will be on schedule."
Egyptian growers continue to give priority to early-season varieties to maintain their competitive export window. "Popular choices include Flame Seedless, Superior Seedless (Sugraone), and Early Sweet, which enjoy strong demand in European and Middle Eastern markets. There is also growing interest in premium varieties, such as Autumn Crisp and Arra varieties, due to rising export prices. Some growers are also turning to newer seedless varieties to match evolving market preferences," the grower adds.
Peru: Higher export volume with adjustments in commercial values
During the 2024–2025 season, Peru reached a new record in table grape exports, surpassing 700,000 tons—well above the 563,000 tons of the previous cycle. This increase is attributed to both a recovery in production following previous adverse climatic conditions and efficient agronomic management in key growing areas such as Piura and Ica.
The United States remains the primary destination for Peruvian grapes, followed by the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Mexico, and Canada. Despite the higher export volume, average prices remained relatively stable, with only slight downward adjustments, not exceeding a 5% variation in most markets. However, some European destinations, including the Netherlands and Germany, experienced more noticeable price declines.
In terms of logistics, challenges continue with the limited availability of refrigerated containers and congestion at major ports, particularly Callao. The upcoming start of operations at the port of Chancay is expected to ease pressure on the port system and improve transit times to Asia, enhancing Peru's competitiveness in that market.
Chile: Reduction in revenues and limiting growing conditions
The table grape season in Chile was marked by a significant drop in prices compared to the previous season. Average prices per 8.2 kg box fell from 22 US$ (EUR 20.46) to a range between 14 and 15 US$ (EUR 13.02–13.95), mainly due to oversupply in key destinations and increased competition from Peru.
Although fruit quality was higher—partly due to a reduced need for chemical treatments such as fumigation—growing conditions continue to be affected by persistent water scarcity in the north of the country. Production also faced increased demands from buyers, especially in markets like the United States and Mexico, where pressure on quality increases in contexts of oversupply.
Brazil: Harvest interruptions due to climatic and labor factors
In Brazil, table grape production was affected by heavy rainfall in regions such as the São Francisco Valley, which caused a considerable decrease in exportable volume. The rainfall compromised fruit quality and limited availability for foreign trade.
Additionally, producers are facing operational difficulties due to the lack of skilled permanent labor, which has slowed harvesting and packing processes. Although Brazil allocates most of its production to domestic consumption, these complications have reduced the ability to seize opportunities in international markets.
India: Favorable weather supports grape season despite lower supply
The grape season in India is progressing smoothly this year, largely due to favorable weather conditions and the absence of rain during harvest. However, the season is shorter, and export volumes are expected to be 15 to 20 percent lower than last year.
Purchase prices have reached historic highs, driven by reduced yields and strong domestic demand, which has also led to high export prices. There is a noticeable shortage of grapes during the early and late stages of the harvest.
India has seen a significant rise in coloured grape varieties, particularly Crimson. Demand from Europe remains strong, and Indian grapes are currently securing good prices in European, Russian, and Middle Eastern markets due to sustained high demand.
China: Imported grape demand rises ahead of Qingming festival
Ahead of the Qingming Festival, demand for imported grapes has increased, leading to slight price rises for some grape varieties. Traders noted that among all varieties, Chilean Autumn Crisp grapes are performing well in both pricing and sales volume. This is mainly due to their excellent taste upon arrival; however, in terms of supply, it remains limited.
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