India closed its 2018-19 table grape export season with a 31% year-on-year volume rise to Europe and a slightly smaller but still significant rise to other markets including Russia and China, The Economic Times reports.

According to the Agricultural and Processed Foods Development Agency (Apeda), India’s grape exports rose from 92,286 metric tons (MT) in 2017-18 to 1,214,690MT in 2018-19.

The Netherlands, the U.K. and Germany accounted for 90% of India’s grape exports.

Table grape prices in the European market slumped for around six weeks from mid-February through March amid heavy supplies but recovered somewhat from April.

"As against the expected price level of 9 to 10 euros for a box of 5 kg grapes, we went with a price of 5 to 7 euros,” Vilas Shinde, chairman of Nashik-based farmer producer company Sahyadri Farms, was quoted as saying.

Though Apeda is yet to compile data about the export of grapes to Russia and other destinations, All India Grape Exporters Association president Jagannath Khapre was quoted as saying: “We believe that the export of grapes to Russia and other countries must have increased by 25% to 30%.” 

The Indian table grape industry is working hard to introduce new varieties into its production areas.