Peru’s blueberry exports slide in 2023-24, but long-term outlook strong

Peruvian blueberry exports in the 2023-24 marketing year (May 2023 to April 2024) will be down more than 40%, the USDA reports.

Peruvian blueberry exports to the U.S. are most active from September through March.

Following nearly exponential growth in the last decade, Peru's blueberry export volume fell in 2023-24 because of warmer weather conditions, especially in the principal production areas of northern Peru, which severely limited flowering between March and October, the report said.

USDA officials in Peru estimate that Peruvian blueberry production for 2023-24 marketing year to reach 195,000 metric tons metric tons, a drop of 37% compared with the previous season.

Adverse weather conditions hit Peru’s coastal regions throughout calendar year 2023, especially in northern Peru, the USDA said. Peru also experienced its warmer winter in more than 60 years, according to the report.

The ventura variety currently leads Peru’s production, with 35% of total harvested area, while biloxi is a close second at 25%, the report said.

“Both varieties fared poorly after high temperatures disrupted the blooming cycles of a significant percentage of plants, leading to reduced fruit,” the report said. With 65 varieties now grown in the country, the USDA said research into new varieties is strong in Peru, with several companies testing new varieties every year.

Almost 80% of Peru’s blueberry fields are centered in the northern coastal regions (Piura, La Libertad, and Lambayeque) where adverse weather conditions hit Peru’s blueberry productivity the hardest.

Export dip

Peruvian blueberry exports are forecast at 165,000 metric tons, a 48% decrease from the previous marketing year, according to the USDA.

In 2022-23, Peru exported fresh blueberries primarily to the U.S. (54%), the Netherlands (25%), China (8%), Hong Kong (5%) and the United Kingdom (5%).

The USDA said total fresh exports in the marketing year 2022-23 were up 30% from the previous year, increasing from 219,000 metric tons to 287,000 metric tons.

For the U.S. market, Peruvian blueberry exports have grown from 27,000 metric tons in marketing year 2016-17 to 154,097 metric tons in marketing year 2022-23, a 470% increase in just six years, the report said. 

Peru's unexpected production drop in 2023 resulted in higher prices, leading to a 28% increase in the value of exports in calendar year 2023, the report said.

Long-term growth

Despite the setback in 2023-24, the USDA said Peru’s blueberry production area grew significantly in the past decade, from 200 acres in 2012 to about 44,000 acres currently in production, averaging 70% annual growth.

The report said the estimated investment for establishing 1 hectare of blueberries ranges from $30,000 to $150,000, with an average of $65,000, although several firms have noted more recent investments have averaged $80,000 or higher.

Even so, USDA officials estimate that a complete return on investment can be made in as little as two years, even on the higher end of the range.

“Despite the poor marketing year 2023-24 season performance, Peru offers the possibility to test new varieties at a fast pace (eight months on average),” the report said.

Peruvian blueberries are produced both in the ground and in pots where soil characteristics are customized, the report said. Large net barriers protect the blueberries from the wind and sand. The report said yields average 15-20 metric tons per hectare in the ground and 20-35 metric tons in pots. Peru’s sunny, warm and dry climate with cool nights allows for nearly year-round harvest in most areas, the report said.