Global fresh produce trade has transformed rapidly over the last decade, with Peru emerging as a significant force. The country’s success in this sector reflects a combination of ideal conditions: prime terrain along the coastal desert, advanced irrigation technology, scientific agricultural practices, and a history of innovative companies willing to explore new blueberry varieties. Peru’s Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation forecasts that agricultural exports could reach $12.21 billion by 2027, positioning Peru as an increasingly influential player in global fruit trade and underscoring its role in meeting the world’s rising demand for fresh produce.
Navigating the Challenges of Climate and Supply Surges
The 2023/24 season presented significant hurdles, including the disruptive impacts of the El Niño phenomenon, which reduced crop yields. Despite these challenges, Peru managed to maintain steady export levels, though initial growth was slower than in past seasons. In the current 2024/25 season, however, export volumes of Peruvian blueberries have reached record highs, peaking in week 42 at around 25,700 metric tons (57 million pounds). This achievement is a testament to Peru’s resilience and adaptability, even under challenging conditions, and reflects advancements in agricultural techniques, logistics, and targeted marketing strategies that have enabled Peru to meet surging global demand.
Peru Fresh Blueberry Export Volume By History
Cultivated Conventional
The delayed peak in the 2024/25 season is largely attributed to postponed pruning schedules—a response to the 2023 El Niño event that allowed for an adjustment in the production cycle. Typically, Peru’s blueberry exports peak between weeks 40 and 42, underscoring a mature and well-regulated production rhythm, with volumes gradually ramping up through the year before culminating in early autumn. However, the sharp increase in production volume during the 2024/25 season brought with it a noticeable decline in prices at the peak. This trend reveals the sensitivity of global markets to sudden surges in supply and underscores the need for strategic demand-side interventions to sustain pricing stability, especially as production scales up in response to strong demand.
Peru Fresh Blueberry Export Price by Partner
Cultivated Conventional
Shifting Price Dynamics Across Key Markets
Over the past few years, the pricing trends in major import markets like China, the United States, and the Netherlands have shown marked fluctuations, particularly during the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons. These variations reflect the susceptibility of different markets to both supply shifts and climate-related disruptions. For instance, the 2023/24 season saw stable, elevated pricing due to reduced yields, which limited supply and upheld prices despite rising demand. By comparison, the 2024/25 season opened with lower volumes at similar price points to 2023/24, but prices began falling as export volumes surged. This pattern highlights the challenge of balancing high production levels with sustainable pricing, especially when global demand for blueberries remains robust but sensitive to oversupply.
Peru Fresh Blueberry Export Volume By Partner
Cultivated Conventional
The United States continues to dominate as the top importer of Peruvian blueberries, with North American demand closely mirroring Peru’s seasonal production trends, typically peaking around early October. Other significant markets include the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and China, which have grown steadily in their share of Peruvian blueberry imports. Notably, the 2024/25 season saw increased volumes not only to the U.S. but also to secondary markets like the Netherlands and China, a reflection of Peru’s strategic approach to diversification. By expanding into multiple markets, Peru reduces its dependence on a single region and can stabilize prices more effectively. This diversification strategy also allows Peru to tap into emerging regions where demand is likely to grow, offering additional resilience in periods of peak production.
The Road to 2025: Sustaining Growth and Market Stability
The shifts in pricing and supply volumes in recent years reflect the evolving nature of global blueberry markets and the ongoing influence of Peru’s production cycles on these trends. The relatively stable, higher prices seen during Peru’s 2023/24 season contrasted sharply with the broader price decline in 2022/23, when high export volumes flooded the market. This comparison underscores the critical role of environmental factors, production levels, and strategic planning in the international blueberry trade. As Peru’s footprint continues to expand, understanding market-specific cycles, demand trends, and consumption patterns will become increasingly important for Peru’s producers.
Looking forward to 2025, the global market is likely to continue adjusting to these evolving dynamics of supply and demand. Although prices in the 2024/25 season have yet to reach the highs seen in 2022/23, the combination of increased volumes and heightened price sensitivity emphasizes the need for careful strategic planning in Peru’s blueberry exports. Despite Peru’s well-established position in the global blueberry market, finding a sustainable equilibrium between maximizing volume and maintaining stable prices will remain a central objective. Diversifying into new and emerging markets offers a promising solution, reducing price pressures on major buyers like the United States and potentially fostering greater pricing resilience during periods of peak supply.
With Peru’s expanding export network, aligning production schedules with distinct market demands and regional consumption patterns is increasingly important. By adopting sustainable growth models and pursuing market stabilization, Peruvian exporters can better navigate global market fluctuations. Forward-looking strategies in forecasting and pricing will be instrumental in empowering Peruvian producers to make informed decisions, maximizing both profitability and long-term sustainability. As Peru builds upon its success in the blueberry industry, these strategies will not only ensure competitive market positioning but will also help solidify its reputation as a reliable supplier in the global fresh produce sector.
