Table grape update 2024: Recovering from last year’s challenging season

Weather events significantly impacted the global table grape industry, resulting in a four-year low in global exports in 2022/23. This decline was mainly due to weather events in Europe and the Americas that higher exports from Chile, China, and other major producers couldn’t offset. However, we expect a recovery in volumes for the 2024/25 season, as most weather-affected countries are showing signs of recovery in production.

Over the past 10 seasons, the share of exports from the Americas has declined from 45% to 36%. Europe has experienced a similar decline, facing challenges such as more extreme weather, margin pressure, challenging regulations, and a stagnant European market. In contrast, China and India have become more significant in global trade, transitioning from net importers to net exporters.

In the coming years, orchard renovations with new proprietary varieties are anticipated in most countries, resulting in increased exports. We expect the shift toward new grape varieties to continue, contributing to a more environmentally and economically sustainable industry. But these new varieties come with several challenges, including branding and achieving a price premium, securing mutually beneficial license agreements for both breeders and growers, and selecting the appropriate variety to plant.