The importation of table grapes into Spain, as well as the rest of Europe, has been and continues to be a real challenge since November due to various factors. Thus, covering the necessary supply for Spanish channels in the weeks leading up to New Year’s Eve, perhaps the most important season, meant paying additional costs.
This is what Juan José Ibarra, from the sales department of the Murcian company Moyca, explains to us, which continues to develop its import programs for the off-season months, at the request of its customers, as well as opening new new markets:
“The last few weeks have been very complicated in being able to supply table grapes from Peru and Brazil at a time of the year when, for 3 or 4 years, things seem to be getting more complicated.”
“It is worth remembering that the Mediterranean season, consisting mainly of Spain and Italy, ended earlier than expected, similar to what happened in the United States. This added greater than usual pressure on Peru and Brazil, where heavy rains fell in week 43. Complications with international transport caused long delays which led to a particularly low spectacular grape volumes in Europe over the last two weeks,” the press release said.
“All European operators have suffered from this situation,” says Juan José Ibarra. “But in our case, we chose not to pass on to our customers the abusively high prices that we paid to ensure supply. This costly effort on our part meant that sales were not interrupted and consumers were not informed of this situation. This is our commitment to service,” he emphasizes.
“Faced with the great challenge of supplying table grapes at this time of year, we have also had to limit the production of certain customers in order to give priority to the New Year’s Eve campaign, which is perhaps be the most critical time of the year and the one where we cannot fail,” emphasizes Mr. Ibarra. “Our objective is very clear: to guarantee the availability of fruit, even if at a high price, and of the best possible quality. »
According to Moyca’s sales agent, “although the situation is improving a little compared to previous weeks, the early varieties from Namibia have been absorbed mainly by the United Kingdom, one of the countries that consume the most grapes and who imported grapes from Namibia by plane at exorbitant prices due to the critical supply situation. It is now the turn of South Africa which, faced with this situation, is bringing forward its harvest at very high prices. Although there will be greater stability in the coming weeks, the pressure and high prices in the market will continue,” says Juan José Ibarra.
For more information:
Juan José Ibarra
Moyca
Such. :+34 968490848
Cell : +34 689251843
[email protected]
www.moyca.org
