Overview

Lebanese grapes are renowned globally for their quality, flavour and taste. As a result, exports have risen threefold in the last 10 years while there are still more opportunities to be tapped in Europe and the Gulf region.

At the moment there are 40 table grape farms GlobalGAP certified.

Varieties

Commonly available table grape varieties are Thompson Seedless and Flame Seedless which have a high yield and good resistance to damage during shipment. Other varieties include Cotton Candy, Kyoho and Pione.

There are more varieties that are also favoured in the domestic market like Baytamouni, Tfeifihi, Maghdushi, Jbaai, Globe seedless, Early Superior seedless, Black Pearl and Red Globe.

Production

The area under table grapes decreased from 9,096 ha in 2012 to reach 6,836 ha in 2021, while the production decreased from 79,699 tons in 2012 to reach 59,221 tons in 2021.*

Exports

Lebanon has witnessed vast improvements in its exports of table grapes over the years. The country’s exports have grown from USD 6.7 million in 2012 to USD 47,3 million in 2022 (61,603 Tons; 146% of 5-year growth).**

Destinations

The main export destinations are UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Egypt, and, Iraq. In Europe, the Netherlands is the main market, followed by The United Kingdom. Market presence in other European markets is expected to grow in the next few years.

Availability

Lebanon’s table grapes harvest season is from June to February. Compared to European countries Italy and Spain, Lebanon has a complementary window from December to February.

* Production data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2023
** Trade data from Trade Map – International Trade Centre, 2023