The behavior of the Chinese market for Chilean and Peruvian blueberries is rapidly gaining prominence and year after year it substantially improves this reality, increasing the volumes received. In the recent blueberry season, the Chinese market presented a significant variation in its composition of weekly arrivals compared to the previous season and this is projected to increase even more this season.

National Shipments

Peruvian blueberry shipments saw an increase in the volume of arrivals in China for much of last season, mainly from September to December. In the case of the current season, this increase has started from the first weeks and is already almost 30% above past figures.

In the case of Chile, the behavior in the past season was different, since the arrivals to the Chinese market were very similar to those registered previously, almost without variations.

Prices

According to the annual report of IQonsulting, in the case of the prices reached, the wholesale average of blueberries from Chile reached a value of USD 9,1 / kg. However, in the case of blueberries from the Peruvian industry, this figure was higher, reaching a price higher than USD 10/kg.

In any case, prices in the Chinese market are very attractive for both, so despite these differences in relation to Peruvian fruit, it is important for Chile not to lose market share.

According to experts, the Chilean fruit has a good flavor attribute, in fact, Chilean blueberries are highly appreciated in the Asian market, because they have the characteristic of being sweet, but the main problem is that they do not have a good size that complements this attribute.

prices per variety

The Chinese market differentiates prices according to the variety that is marketed, so they are highly variable, although equally attractive. In the case of the supply of blueberries from the Peruvian industry, the Biloxi variety is the one that still has the highest arrival volume, although the Ventura variety is quickly approaching. Despite the volumes, these varieties reach lower prices than other varieties shipped, reaching an average price slightly higher than USD 9 /kg. The Peruvian varieties that have reached the highest prices last season were Magica and Bianca, with USD 12,8/kg and USD 12,1/kg.

In the case of Chilean blueberries, the variety that reached the highest price in the Chinese wholesale market was Blue Ribbon, one of the varieties recommended by the Chilean Blueberry Committee, which reached an average of USD 11,8/kg. and the variety that obtained the lowest average price of Chilean fruit sent to the Chinese wholesale market was Brigitta, one of the varieties not recommended by the Committee, which reached USD 5,7/kg.

Outlook and challenges

According to the behavior of the current season, which has already started in the case of Peru, this asymmetric reality between the two industries may be increasing, due to the rapid varietal change exerted by Peru, the considerable increase in planted area and higher volumes of shipments. , and other comparative advantages.

In this framework, the Chilean industry is advised by its experts to devise strategies that aim to speed up the transport of blueberries, such as those developed by the cherry industry through fast ships, and in another perspective, to continue working to implement the System Approach in a greater amount of territory, so that the fruit does not have to face fumigation at destination, which only contributes to its deterioration.