Grape Exports To EU Declines By 50% In 2010-11.

Grape exports to the European Union declined by 50% in 2010-11 as compared to the previous year. The EU had banned grape exports from India in the previous year due to pesticide issue.

"The super markets in Europe, except UK, did not promote Indian grapes this year. The prices were also much less than farmers' expectations," said Jagannath Khapre, president of All India Grape Exporters Association.

There was not much export by the small grower exporters. "After last year's losses, small growers were not willing to
take the risk," said Mr Khapre. However, organised exporters have done comparatively better.

Grape prices in the domestic market remained very good as the production was less by 40%. The difference between the domestic market price and the export price was just about Rs 10/kg. The average wholesale price of grapes in the domestic market and the European market was Rs 35/kg and Rs 45/kg respectively while the maximum price in domestic and international market was Rs 60/kg and Rs 73/kg respectively.

With the issue of E.coli outbreak, the exporters of agricultural produce are not confident about the response of the European market to the Indian produce in the next year. Hence they have requested APEDA to work on opening up of new potential markets like China and Japan where margins are high and demand is more.

Source : economictimes.indiatimes.com