India’s grape exports to register significant growth this year
The Dollar Business Bureau
India’s grape exports are expected to register a significant growth this season due to bad crop conditions in Chile, one of the world’s largest exporters of grape.
All India Grape Exporters Association President Jagannath Khapre said Indian grape exports have touched 1.92 lakh tonnes in the past, but this season the outbound shipments are going to cross the number due to good weather conditions in the grape growing regions and also due to the normal monsoon.
The grape crop in Chile is projected to witness 15% - 20% loss as a result of an unfavourable climate this season coupled with the devastating impact of El Nino.
“Grape exports from Chile to the European Union are likely to be impacted this season because of the bad weather in that country. And if India plays its cards right, it could benefit and improve grape exports this year,” Khapre said.
“Moreover, Russia and Bangladesh exports from India had reduced last year and if these countries increase export then once again India could gain advantage. The demand will rise, and if currency improves, exports could rise,” he added.
Last year, India exported about 84,000 tonnes of grape to Europe. But this year, this number is expected to grow 5-7%. The exports have picked up considerably after 2014, when Indian traders exported 1.92 lakh tonnes of grapes to around 94 countries, of which Europe and the UK accounted for 65,000 tonnes.
Indian grape exports had faced a setback in 2010, when the EU detected more than acceptable quantity of chlormequat chloride in the Indian table grape consignments.
Nashik district exported the maximum quantity of grapes at 108,000 tonnes last season as against 49,768 tonnes in 2014-15. Of the total, 75,000 metric tonnes were exported to the European countries, and the rest to other countries including Russia, Bangladesh, China, Dubai etc.
Recently, Canada has granted market access to the Indian fresh grapes exporters. This will enable Indian exporters to take advantage of the Canadian market from the next season.
The total grape plantation area is estimated to be 3.50 lakh acres across the country, while the total grape production is estimated at 28 lakh metric tonnes. Maharashtra has 2.75 lakh acres under cultivation and produces about 22 lakh tonnes.
