Indonesia overtakes China as Australia’s largest table-grape market by volume

Indonesia moves ahead by volume

Indonesia became Australia’s largest table-grape export destination by volume in 2025/26, ending China’s long-standing position at the center of the industry’s overseas sales. According to Agronometrics’ Global Trade Data, Indonesia received 28,789 metric tons, compared with 28,003 metric tons shipped to China. Fresh Fruit Portal reported that Jeff Scott, CEO of the Australian Table Grape Association, confirmed the crossover in an interview with FreshPlaza on August 26, 2026.

The margin was only 786 metric tons, but the change occurred during a weaker Australian crop year. Fresh Fruit Portal said exports fell 16.3 percent by volume in 2025/26 because of vine removals, vineyard restructuring and above-average rainfall, citing USDA FAS Canberra. Export value declined by a smaller 5.9 percent, indicating that prices and the destination mix partly cushioned the reduction in shipments.

China still held a narrow lead in revenue. Australian shipments to China were worth $78.7 million, against $76.1 million for Indonesia. The average price was $2.81 per kilogram in China and $2.64 per kilogram in Indonesia, allowing China to remain the larger market by value despite receiving less fruit.

Chinese supply reshapes regional competition

The shift follows several years of pressure on Australia’s traditional export channels. China absorbed more than 40 percent of Australian table-grape shipments at the market’s 2019/20 peak. Australia’s total exports reached 149,076 metric tons that season, but dropped almost 20 percent in 2020/21. After a partial recovery, shipments fell 18.6 percent to 106,473 metric tons in 2023/24.

Fresh Fruit Portal linked the change to rapid expansion in Chinese domestic grape production, particularly seedless varieties. Growing Chinese exports also entered regional markets during Australia’s January-to-May sales window. Between 2022/23 and 2023/24, Australian shipments fell 27 percent to China, 49 percent to Vietnam and 39 percent to Thailand. Import data showed Chinese grape volumes arriving in Vietnam and Thailand during that window increased by 193 percent and 33 percent, respectively, between 2022/23 and 2024/25.

Indonesia proved more resilient than those destinations and continued to grow through Australia’s weaker seasons. The average Australian FOB export price nevertheless fell to $2.59 per kilogram in 2024/25, the lowest level in the cited dataset, before recovering to $2.91 in 2025/26. That was close to the $2.92 recorded in 2023/24, suggesting that the longer-term adjustment has been more severe in volume than in unit value.

Japan adds a higher-priced outlet

Australia’s overall exports recovered to 139,272 metric tons in 2024/25, generating $361 million. Japan was an important contributor after granting full varietal access in July 2024, opening its market to more than 130 Australian varieties. Shipments to Japan rose from 3,819 metric tons in 2023/24 to 11,756 metric tons in 2025/26.

Japan also delivered a higher return. The average FOB price for Australian grapes sold there increased from $2.52 per kilogram to $3.07 per kilogram. The combination of Indonesia’s expanding volume and Japan’s premium pricing gives growers and exporters alternatives to China, although the narrow Indonesia-China gap and the latest production decline leave the industry exposed to crop conditions and regional competition. Australia’s counter-seasonal supply window and reputation for clean, safe production remain advantages, but market access, variety selection and pricing will determine how durable the redirection becomes.