China Market Access for Brazilian Table Grapes Expected This Year

Guilherme Coelho, president of the Brazilian Association of Exporting Producers of Fruits and Derivatives (Abrafrutas), recently stated that the Chinese market may open up to Brazilian table grapes as early as the end of this year.

In late March, Coelho and Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture Carlos Fávaro went to Beijing to attend the Brazil–China Business Seminar. After two years of evaluation and negotiation, the face-to-face exchanges between high-ranking officials from the two countries have brought Brazilian table grapes one step closer to gaining access to the Chinese market. According to Coelho, China’s General Administration of Customs will soon conduct virtual inspections of Brazilian table grape vineyards and processing facilities prior to final import permission being granted.

The export season for Brazilian table grapes typically lasts from January to July. Approximately 70% of the fresh grapes for export are produced in the northeastern state of Pernambuco, with most of them originating from the Valley of Saint Francis.

In 2022, humid weather conditions in the valley greatly affected table grape production in Brazil, resulting in total exports dropping by almost half. In the first seven months of 2022, Brazil’s table grape exports stood at only 12,400 metric tons, representing a 45% decrease compared with the same period of the previous year. The export value for the period was only $26.2 million, corresponding to a year-on-year decrease of 49%. At present, the main overseas markets for Brazilian table grapes are the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States, Spain and Argentina.

Image: Pixabay

This article was translated from Chinese. Read the original article.