Blueberry cultivation in South Africa, although still limited compared to the production of other fruits in the country, such as citrus, apples, pears and table grapes, has grown exponentially in recent years.

The cultivated area of ​​blueberries has increased by 30% in the last 9 years, thanks to the continuous investments of local producers and the entry of international companies, especially from Europe. The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) has also been a driving force in the development of the berries by funding various projects across the country and encouraging the creation of an association, the South African Berry Producers Association (SABPA).

The United Kingdom is the largest market for South African blueberries, accounting for 53% of total exports, followed by the Netherlands (22%), Germany (8%), Ireland (6%), Spain (4%), Malaysia (3%), Singapore (2%) and the United Arab Emirates (1%). The prominence of the British market is largely due to the influence of various UK-based production and trading companies, which have played an important role in establishing the sector in South Africa. South Africa has a free trade agreement with the European Union and the United Kingdom.

South Africa's main competitors for blueberry exports are South American countries such as Chile, Peru and Argentina.

Based on the increase in cultivated area and the new plantations that are beginning to bear fruit, the increase in production for the 2020/2021 season is estimated at 22%, up to 22.000 tons. As a result, exports are projected to increase 20% to 18.000 tons, unless the effects of COVID-19 affect marketing.

For more information:  USDA