Provid reveals the 3rd estimate for grape exports in the 2022/23 season

As of March 12, Peru shipped 68.9 million boxes of grapes (8.2 kg each), a figure that falls short of the second estimate for the 2022/23 season, which projected a 13% growth compared to the previous season. 

This was informed by the general manager of the Association of Table Grape Producers of Peru (Provid), Alejandro Cabrera, who also stated that current estimate is around 70 million or 70.5 million boxes with a projected year-on-year volume increase of around 8.5%. The campaign would end in mid-April.

The shipments were impacted by strikes of transporters in November and protests and road closures in December and January, in addition to the cold weather in the beginning of the season in the north that delayed volumes. 

Shipments to Asian countries were among the most affected. Cabrera explained that the journey to Asia takes up to 31 days. In those 12 days of closure in Ica, they had problems with harvesting, entering the packing plant, and removing containers from ports, and there could have been an impact on the ripening process. So, many producers opted for closer countries in Latin America, Central America, and North America.

Until March 12, shipments to China and Korea dropped 30% and 40%, respectively. According to Cabrera, this also impacted prices, since Asian countries offer better returns.