Grape Industry Analysis for Investment and Redevelopment

Yield (tonnes/hectare)
6.2 Dried grape production 1997 to 2014
The Murray Valley accounts for 98% of National dried grape production. Figure 31 shows
production (dried tonnes) for the Murray Valley based on aggregated data from Horticulture
Australia, made available by Dried Fruits Australia.
Figure 31: Dried grapes from the Murray Valley (tonnes) delivered to packers 1997 to 2013
1997 2003 2006 2009 2013
% of total
in 2013
Change (t)
1997-2013
Sultanas 23,976 13,724 23,182 12,432 11,081 62% - 12,895
Sunmuscat - 895 1,847 1,641 3,247 18% + 3,247
Raisins 1,932 1,304 1,306 1,115 1,120 6% - 812
Currants 2,893 2,010 2,689 1,999 2,494 14% - 399
Other - 31 48 23 65 0% + 65
Total dried tonnes 28,802 17,963 29,072 17,210 18,007 100% - 10,794
Average yields (dried tonnes per hectare) for the Murray Valley were calculated from tonnages in
Figure 31 and SunRISE hectares for bearing dried grape plantings (Figure 28).
Yields have, in general, increased since 1997 with the average yield in 2013 40% (1.5 tonnes/ha)
higher than in 1997. The 2013 yields are approximate as they are based on 2013 tonnages and
2014 hectares. 2014 tonnages were unavailable at the time of the analysis.
Figure 32: Average yields (dried tonnes/ha) for dried grape fruit 1997 to 2013
8.0
1997 2003 2006 2009 2013
7.0
6.0
5.0
4.0
Sultanas
Sunmuscat
Raisins
Currants
3.0
1997 2003 2006 2009 12 2013
Change 1997 to 2013
% tonnes/ha
Sultanas 3.6 3.2 5.9 5.0 4.9 + 35% + 1.3
Sunmuscat - 6.4 5.1 3.9 6.1 - 5% - 0.3
Raisins 4.6 5.1 6.9 6.4 6.3 + 36% + 1.7
Currants 6.3 6.0 7.3 5.7 6.8 + 7% + 0.4
Other - 3.4 5.6 4.0 8.8 + 161% + 5.4
weighted average
(dried tonnes/ha)
3.8 3.6 6.0 5.0 5.4 + 40% + 1.5
dried tonnes/acre 1.5 1.5 2.4 2.0 2.2
12 Severe sunburn impacted on the Sunmuscat crop in 2009, hence the unprecedented low Sunmuscat yields
in this season.
SunRISE Mapping & Research Grape Industry Analysis Page 42 of 65