Which country exports the most grapes globally? Who is increasing or decreasing their exports the fastest? These questions aren't as straightforward as they seem, so EastFruit decided to investigate these trends.
Before diving into the rankings of the world's largest exporters, it's important to note that within the top twenty exporters, there are clear trends of some countries replacing others. However, the global grape trade is currently stagnating, meaning it is not growing. This stagnation could be due to deglobalization trends, climate change, or advancements in grape variety selection that allow for production in more northern latitudes. Regardless, the global grape trade is highly competitive.
Peru now sells the largest volumes of table grapes worldwide, a change that occurred in 2023 when it surpassed the long-time leader, Chile. Peru's advantage lies in its longer growing season and cheaper labor. On average, Peru's grape exports grow by 14.3% or 66,000 tons annually, while Chile's exports decrease by 6.6% or 40,000 tons each year.
"The global market for table grapes is undergoing significant transformation. Many countries are replacing old grape varieties with new ones that better meet rapidly changing consumer preferences. Additionally, there is an increasing supply of varieties more resistant to pests, diseases, and climatic stress. These changes are crucial as the global fruit market shows signs of stagnation and faces increased competition from newer products like blueberries. By the way, Peru is also a global leader in blueberry exports," says Andriy Yarmak, an economist at the Investment Centre of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
In 2023, China made a significant leap, moving up two positions to become the third-largest exporter of fresh table grapes, displacing Italy and South Africa from third and fourth place, respectively. China is increasing its exports by 7.4% or 28,000 tons per year, while Italy's exports are decreasing by 10,000 tons annually.
Another notable trend is the continued growth of grape exports from India, which is increasing by an impressive 10.2% per year. This growth allowed India to rise to eighth place in the world exporter rankings by the end of 2023, displacing the United States, which is reducing its exports by 10% annually.
Turkey, which closes the top ten, sharply reduced its exports in 2023, falling below its usual ranking. Overall, Turkey's table grape exports show signs of stagnation, and the country urgently needs to replace old varieties and improve product quality to compete more effectively in the market.
Within the top 20, Mexico stands out with an average annual drop in exports of 21%, struggling to compete with Peru. Meanwhile, Brazil's grape exports are growing by 10.6% per year, and Moldova's by 6%. Moldova rose to 18th place in the global ranking, while Uzbekistan, which was in the top 10 in 2022, fell to 20th place in 2023. This sharp decline is due to a "grape catastrophe"—the mass death of vineyards in Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries due to frost.
Source: EastFruit