The grape season in India is about to really kick off and the expectations for the season are rather positive, says Vijay Ingle of Indian grape exporter Greenfield Agriclinic: "Our grape season starts in January of every year. Sometimes it starts in February, as climate change has caused weather conditions to be less stable, or even shifting. Last year, our grape season was not very satisfying due to the rainy weather and climate conditions in general. As a result of this, the yield was much lower than it will be this year."
The first container has been shipped towards Hamburg, a major milestone for the start of Greenfield's season, Ingle explains. "This year, we've received more inquiries compared to last year. Thankfully, the yield is better and the quality is excellent. At the same time though, the price is high compared to the previous season. Our first container of grapes was sold for a 2 USD per kg rate in Hamburg. This container was the first container of the season, was loaded on January the 14th, and is on its way to Hamburg as we speak."
According to Ingle, the demand combined with the better quality will lead to prices increasing compared to last season: "Overall, I think the prices for grapes from India will be higher than it was last year, because there is a very strong demand for Indian Grapes and the quality of the product is excellent this year. As a result, I don't expect the price to go below 2 USD per kg. Many buyers are contacting us, even offering payment in advance, but they want to pay less than 2 USD."
Overall, the conflict surrounding the Red Sea is still causing major issues for grape exports to Europe, Ingle explains. "The logistics represent the biggest challenge for grape exporters from India, due to the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza, which causes route changes. Overall, I think that the cost of logistics will be too high in 2025. We've already informed our buyers about the current situation and fluctuation in the logistics rates, so they won't run into any surprises."
"Looking at our current shipment to Hamburg, we hope this will be the catalyst for more shipments during the season. If the demand is good from our buyers, the German market could become a good one for us. Since the quality is good this year, we expect 25 to 30 containers from our company to be sold in the Hamburg market," Ingle concludes.
For more information:
Vijay K Ingle
Greenfield Agriclinic & Agribusiness Centre
Tel: +91 738 543 17 76
greenfieldagriclinic@gmail.com
www.greenfieldseedsandexport.com