Despite a challenging season, the export volumes for grapes from India are increasing, says Samir Singh, business promoter for Indian grape exporter Mersel Foods: “The harvesting of grape and packing operations are going on in full swing. Export volumes to all of our destinations are increasing weekly. White seedless and colored varieties are available for harvesting at this point of the season. We’ve also completed the construction our new state-of-the-art packhouse in Nashik and are preparing to start operations there in a few days.”
The grape growers and exporters have had several difficulties thrown at them over the course of the season, Singh explains. “Currently, we’re grappling with various challenges related to the quality of table grapes in our vineyards. An unexpected cold wave from the northern part of the country has impacted the quality of grapes to some extent. The brix level in the grapes is a major issue currently. Simultaneously, issues such as berry cracking, especially in black and flame seedless varieties, and a slight decline in the quality of Thompson seedless grapes, are contributing to our concerns. Despite these challenges, our dedicated and skilled workforce is ensuring the delivery of high-quality produce to our valued clients. Importantly, we anticipate a reduction in the number of chemical residues used this year compared to the previous one, thanks to the highly favourable weather conditions during the early developmental stages of our vineyards.”
The grape export to European markets did start a bit earlier than last year, Singh states: “As expected, the export of grape to Europe commenced this year around two weeks earlier, from week 2. The end of February will see the peak of the season; volumes will go down substantially towards the end of March. Overall, the volume this year is expected to be more-or-less at the same level as last year. This year, there is a good demand for coloured varieties, like Crimson Seedless. Growers are also diversifying their portfolio, by cultivating several coloured varieties.”
According to Singh, the crisis at the Red Sea is having a significant impact on the grape season. “We’re facing major issues with the logistic situation this year. The problem at Red Sea appears to have impacted the entire grapes season. The hike in freight rates for containers to Rotterdam have gone up by around 3000 USD. The transit period to Rotterdam through cape of Good Hope has been extended to 35 days on average, which means shipments to secondary ports in Europe will take around 42 days. This is the reason why significantly less containers are being shipped to secondary ports in Europe.”
The export volumes are expected to continue to go up in the following weeks: “The supply of grapes is expected to increase in the upcoming weeks, and this trend is anticipated to continue until week 12, from the 18th to the 24th of March. However, there is a projected sudden shortage after that point, which will likely lead to an increase in prices. We export most of our volume to Europe, our fruits are available for sales at our warehouse in Rotterdam, on FOT basis,” Singh concludes.
For more information:
Mr. Samir Singh
Mersel Foods Pvt. Ltd.
Tel: +371-29516075
Email: [email protected]
www.merselfoods.com