Climate factors in Eastern Europe are creating the possibility of a world shortage of blackcurrants, and that could be good news for New Zealand’s blackcurrant industry.

Eastern Europe accounts for most of the world's production of blackcurrants.

New Zealand agronomist Jim Grierson, President of the International Blackcurrant Association, says that climatic factors could halve European exports this year.

“They've had frosts in the early part of spring, and then a very dry summer, growing season.

“They're about 70,000 tones shorter than they would normally be, which doesn’t sound like a lot, but does when taken in a global perspective."

But the disastrous blackcurrant season in Europe is expected to boost the demand and prices for NZ own currants.

Jim says the supply shortage could double international blackcurrant prices; which he says will be a positive for Kiwi growers.

"We should have a positive affect from the NZ crop which starts being harvested in December. World prices should definitely have improved by then, and in fact, they have already started to lift in the last week."