Record South African grape harvest boosts supply to Europe amid shifting export flows

South Africa closed the 2025/26 table grape season with a record harvest of approximately 354,000 tonnes, maintaining stable exports to Europe despite logistical and commercial challenges.

South Africa achieved its largest-ever table grape harvest in the 2025/26 season, reaching about 78.7 million 4.5-kg boxes (approximately 354,000 tonnes). Despite an 11% reduction in planted area since 2018/19, improved yields from new varieties enabled record production. Export volumes remained steady at around 352,400 tonnes, nearly identical to the previous season. The sector faced significant logistical issues, especially at the Port of Cape Town, and redirected exports to Europe following a sharp decline in shipments to the US due to new tariffs.

In Italy, the wholesale market for grapes in Padova was calm at the end of July, with both demand and prices showing signs of slowing despite good quality. The Italian Victoria variety reached up to €2.2/kg for top-quality lots, while first-category grapes traded between €1.0 and €1.3/kg depending on the brand. Seedless grapes performed better in terms of demand. The market slowdown was attributed to the summer holiday period and persistent high temperatures.

Turkey increased its overall fresh fruit and vegetable exports to 3.7 million tonnes in 2024, a 175% rise since 2002. However, the 2025 fresh fruit and vegetable production, including grapes, fell by 14% due to the climate crisis, dropping to 44.35 million tonnes. Turkish exporters continue to compete in European grape markets, impacting supply and price dynamics in destinations such as Poland.

Hungary introduced legislative changes to accelerate financial assistance for fruit and grape growers affected by spring frost and other natural disasters. These measures aim to preserve the operational capacity of affected farms, potentially stabilizing future grape supply from Hungary to European markets.

Italian producers are increasingly focusing on premium seedless ARRA grape varieties and innovative packaging, targeting major European supermarket chains. This varietal shift is designed to meet changing consumer preferences for convenience and quality, potentially increasing the competitiveness of Italian grape exports in the EU.

Material prepared by the editorial team of fresh-market.info, editor Artur Spiker · Illustrative image generated by AI