Australia: Fresh Deciduous Fruit Annual

Australia’s table grape production is expected to increase to 210,000 MT in marketing year (MY) 2021/22, from an estimated 200,000 metric tons (MT) in MY 2020/21. Despite expanded vine plantings in recent years now coming into fruiting, production has remained relatively flat since MY 2019/20. Reduced labor availability caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has not only impacted production but also reduced the volume of export-quality table grapes and subsequently increased the supply of table grapes on the domestic market. The shortage of shipping container availability and higher transportation costs (also largely attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic) contributed to lower exports in MY 2020/21 (120,500 MT) and are expected to constrain exports in MY 2021/22 (forecast at 130,000 MT). These volumes are both down significantly from the export record of 152,500 MT in MY 2019/20.