Japan Peru is emerging as an attractive market for blueberries, driven by growing consumer interest in healthy and functional foods. This trend aligns with Peru's capacity to offer sustainable, high-quality production, the report stated. Association of Exporters (ADEX).

In 2024, global imports of this fruit reached US$7.351 billion, 30% higher than in 2023 (US$5.668 billion). The ranking of the main buyers was led by the US, the Netherlands, Germany, the UK, Canada, China, Spain, and Hong Kong. All of them registered increases of over 20%.

Japan ranked 26th, experiencing a 6% increaseIts population consumes blueberries fresh, frozen, dried, in juices, jams, and supplements. Its main suppliers are the USA, Mexico, Chile, Canada, the UK, the UAE, New Zealand, and China.

Peru cannot yet supply it because it lacks the phytosanitary protocol. National Service of Agrarian Health (Senasa) It has been negotiating access with its Japanese counterpart, which is expected to be finalized in the short term.

In order to support this key objective, ADEX organizes a visit from a Japanese delegation to a large farm that has fields for cultivating this product, along with an R&D unit and a packing-refrigeration plant, located in the Ica region.

The members of the Japanese delegation will be accompanied by representatives from ADEX and assisted by the host companies.

El Patricio Luzanto, director of ADEXHe highlighted the evolution of the Peruvian blueberry thanks to its quality, flavor and nutritional value. “For years, Peru has remained the leading global exporter, with an approximate share of 35%"He said.

"In 2024, we surpassed the Netherlands, Spain, Chile, Morocco, the USA, and Mexico. Entering Japan will allow us to maintain that leadership, diversifying our offering in such an important and attractive market.”He said.

It should be noted that Peru currently has some 65 varieties of this berryEach new export season sees a highly significant contribution of new varieties introduced into the fields, resulting from genetic improvement processes.

These innovations give it valuable attributes, such as a longer post-harvest life, greater tolerance and resistance to refrigerated storage periods and long journeys, as well as berries of better size, color and flavor.

Facts & figures

– So far this year, Bolivia and Indonesia have been added as new destinations for this crop. In addition to Japan, Senasa is working on phytosanitary access for Vietnam and New Zealand.

– According to the ADEX Data Trade Business Intelligence SystemPeru exported blueberries last year to 40 countries whose ranking was led by the USA, the Netherlands, Hong Kong and the United Kingdom.