In a difficult season marked by labour shortages, high shipping costs and uncertain markets, Mr Carlos Bonet, the Commercial Director for North America and Asia of the giant table grape and citrus agritech company AM FRESH, has foreseen some good news for Australian table grape growers exporting to Asia.
This season, table grape growers in South America, particularly Chile and Peru, are facing the same shipping/logistical challenges that Australian growers are facing – shortages of containers and much higher shipping costs.
Carlos states that “a scarcity of shipping, a shortage of containers and extremely common delays have resulted in large increases in shipping costs as well as longer voyage times and increased unreliability for South American exporters sending to SE Asia.”
“Because the voyage to Asia is long, these risks are magnified and our suppliers in Chile and Peru have asked for their fruit to go into the US this year. This means that Australian growers are likely to have considerably less competition from Chilean fruit in SE Asia this season” according to Carlos.
Carlos further notes “In Asia, Australian table grapes are very well regarded as high end, premium fruit. While Australia exports some fruit from public varieties such as Menindee and Crimson, increasingly, Australian growers export the newer, higher quality proprietary varieties. Increasingly, Asian supermarket chains are requesting fruit from these varieties – not just “white seedless” or “red seedless” but specific varieties”.
“Overall, prospects for Australian table grapes are very good in SE Asia this year. Yes, labour shortages in Australia and high shipping costs complicate the picture but Australia’s relatively short voyage distances, reduced supply from South America, the high quality reputation of Australian fruit and Australia’s ability to provide premium proprietary varieties are all strong positives for growers selling in Asia,” Carlos said.
