Blueberries have a number of features that make them more attractive than other fruits, such as good post-harvest properties and a "superfruit" status because of their health benefits.
With a 9% volume growth rate worldwide, the fruit has doubled the growth registered in 2012 and tripled that of the fruit industry in general. The general perception among consumers is that it is the ideal snack, as they have a long shelf life, are consumed fresh and are an excellent source of antioxidants.
The top five markets driving their growth in 2013 were Australia, Russia, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Venezuela. The United States, the world's largest market for blueberries, remained stable due to saturation and only Italy registered a marginal decline.
The price factor has been the greatest obstacle for the increase of blueberry demand; however, due to the constant increase in supply of recent years, it is expected that prices will gradually become more accessible to consumers.
Euromonitor estimates that blueberry volumes should increase by around 40% by 2018, surpassing one million tonnes. The markets that should experience considerable increases in consumption levels in the coming years are: Singapore, Philippines, Norway, Malaysia and Sweden. The UK, despite having an already developed market, is expected to grow by around 76%.
In Europe, sales volumes remain low, considering how Spain, Turkey, France and Italy are major worldwide producers. In Latin America, Brazil is an underdeveloped market for blueberries due to the large number of fruits that are produced throughout the year.
Source: Agrimundo
