Brazilian grape exports saw an economic slump in January as in comparison to the previous months, as per Comex Stat information. The country shipped 2,060 tons of grapes. This was a decrease of 86% compared to December 2024, but the increase was 18% from January 2024. This was the biggest amount of exports in the month of January over six years apart from 2019, when 3,660 tons were exported.

Exports from this sector remained almost unchanged, at $5.32 million. This is in line with an increase of 1% since January 2024. Analysts from Hortifruti/Cepea reported that imports from large countries such as those from the United States and the United Kingdom continued to be strong, driven by the ongoing trade agreements. The challenges of logistics continued to impact rivals like Peru as well as South Africa.

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The variety of Cat 1 and Premium grapes in Brazil especially white varieties that are seedless are expected to decline. The reason for this is due to the an extreme rainfall during January in Sao Francisco Valley, the principal region for exporting grapes in Pernambuco as well as Bahia. This means that domestic shortages could lead to an increase in imports.

In January, Brazil import 771.6 tonnes of grapes. This is an increase of 114% over the previous year. It was the most number since January of this year. In the coming months, continued rainfall throughout the Sao Francisco Valley could further reduce domestic production, affecting exports, and increasing the volume of imports. Industry experts stress the need to develop solutions to tackle climate-related issues as well as stabilize quality and production.

Source: Datamar News