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Market pressure on grapes
28 Jan 2004
Growers and exporters say table grapes will struggle this season due to the rising $AUD and late maturing crops. One exporter said prices could fall to $12-$15 per 10-kilogram case this year, which is barely enough to cover growers' costs.
Growers usually expect up to $20 a case from exports to Asian markets, but because the fruit matured late this season they missed the opportunity for good prices prior to the Chinese New Year.
The Australian Table Grape Association said that growers might ignore exports and flood the local market, resulting in lower domestic prices. Without the important export market local prices could fall as low as $5 a case, ATGA president Brian Woodford claimed.
From the total Australian crop, about 52 per cent is usually exported to Asian destinations such as Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong.
Weekly Times, 28/1/04, page 20.
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