Peru has managed to establish itself as the largest exporter of blueberries in the world, conquering markets such as the United States and China. To diversify the destinations of its blueberries, the country seeks to expand to other markets. From January to April 2022, Peruvian exports of fresh blueberries totaled $146 million, reflecting an increase of 117 percent over the same period last year, according to information collected from the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur). During this time, the main market was the US, with 55% of the total volume, followed by the Netherlands with 23%, China with 12%, the UK with 5% and other countries with the remaining 5%. At the height of the 2021/22 season, 8,8 thousand tons of blueberries were registered, which represents an increase of 28% compared to the maximum volumes registered in the 2020/2021 season. The 2022-2023 blueberry campaign in Peru started in week 18 with 99 K kg of incoming blueberries registered in week 28. 

Source: USDA Market News via Agronometrics. (Agronometrics users can view this chart with live updates here)

Source: USDA Market News via Agronometrics. (Agronometrics users can view this chart with live updates here)

“The blueberry consumption revolution has already begun, [as] it happened before with grapes. In the short term, the consumer will have better quality, sweeter, larger and crunchier fruit. And what the producer will have is higher productivity per hectare and lower harvest cost,” says Ricardo Polis, Regional Director of Fall Creek & Nursery. He indicated that Peru is leading the substitution of varieties in the blueberry market and projected that of the more than 300.000 tons that Peru could export in 2025, around 120.000 tons will be of new varieties.

In addition to better flavor and size, growers have also increased organic production.

Prices in the 2021/22 season ranged from $13,29 per pack to $32,25 per pack. Prices this season will largely depend on incoming volumes and demand. 

Source: USDA Market News via Agronometrics. (Agronometrics users can view this chart with live updates here)

Peru is now the number 1 exporter of blueberries in the world due to the increase in agricultural exports of this crop, with the recent inclusion of the Israeli market, Peruvian blueberries can now be sold in 62 different countries. In the 2021-2022 campaign, Peru exported 222.714 tons and the production area was expanded by 17.707 hectares. According to Daniel Bustamante, president of Proarandanos, the country should not rest on its laurels as Mexico has managed to accelerate its berry production in recent campaigns. He went on to state that they maintain their blueberry export growth forecast of 15% for the 2022-2023 campaign, with shipments reaching 276.000 tons.

Source: USDA Market News via Agronometrics. (Agronometrics users can view this chart with live updates here)

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All US domestic farm product prices represent the cash market at the point of shipment (ie, packing house/climate-controlled warehouse, etc.). For imported fruit, price data represents the spot market at the port of entry.

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