Indian grapes face price surge as harvest falls short
Lower yields push farmgate prices up, while exports to Europe slow down.
INDIA – India’s grape farmers are feeling the pinch this season as lower harvests push prices higher, putting exporters and growers under pressure.
Amit Chopade, CEO of Indian fresh produce exporter Chopde Farms and Exports, said, “This time, the Indian grape season is much more challenging than the years we’ve had. Due to continuous rains after pruning, the grapevine didn’t get enough sunlight. With this in mind, the overall yield and harvest will be a lot lower than usual. Thompson and other white varieties have suffered more from this issue compared to colored varieties.”
The lower yields have raised farmgate prices, with growers aiming to cover their input costs. “Farmers are struggling to secure their input costs from what they’ve harvested. The grape harvest is delayed, leading to lower availability in the early season, especially compared to previous seasons. Farmers are expecting higher prices from exporters at the farm due to the lower volumes. This in itself has led to historically high prices at the farmgate, about 1.5 times the price we usually see. Exporters are worried about this price being sustainable, and as a result, they choose to reduce or delay their shipments to Europe in the early season. At the moment, we see that about 15 percent less volumes are shipped to Europe this year, so far.”
Shipping logistics are adding to the uncertainty. Chopade explained, “In the European market, there are more fruits from other origins. However, demand for Indian grapes is good in Russia and the domestic market, a lot better compared to European markets this time around. Shipping lines are still following the same route, which means going through the Cape of Good Hope. That being said, some shipping lines may take the opportunity to go through the Suez Canal this time. This would reduce transit time by 10–12 days, but it’s still uncertain as of now.”
Broader horticulture gains
Despite the difficulties in grape production, India’s overall horticulture output continues to grow. The Agriculture Ministry reported that total production for the 2024 to 2025 season reached 369.05 million tons, a 4 percent increase from last year’s 354.74 million tons. The area under cultivation also rose slightly from 29.08 million hectares to 29.488 million hectares.
Fruit production climbed to 118.76 million tons, with bananas, mangoes, watermelon, jackfruit, mandarins, papaya, and guava leading the gains.
Vegetable output grew to 215.68 million tons, driven by higher onion and potato yields, while spice production edged up to 12.50 million tons.
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh credited both farmers and researchers for the progress. “These include better seeds, the use of modern technologies, and easier access to markets. Significant progress has been recorded in the production of fruits and vegetables,” he said.
Singh added that ongoing support and innovations aim to boost productivity and incomes, helping India move toward a stronger position in global agriculture.
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