This season, Peru exported 217,000 tons of blueberries up until last week, i.e 28% more than in the same period of last season. According to the general manager of Proarandanos, Luis Miguel Vegas, last year Peru achieved opening the markets of India and Malaysia, and in 2022, the country achieved opening the Israeli market and agricultural exporters are working to open four new markets: South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
"These countries have very important populations and, therefore, are interesting destinations for blueberries. Depending on the volumes they absorb, they can even come behind China and become the main export destinations of the fruit," stated the executive, adding that they had a list of up to 10 new countries for this commercial activity.
Exports
The country is expected to export 290,000 tons of blueberries in the campaign that began in May and that will end between March and April, i.e. 31% more volume than in the previous campaign. Peru currently produces blueberries on 17,943 hectares that have been subjected to a significant varietal change in recent years. At the local level, today there are 65 varieties, while in 2016 there were only 13.
"Six years ago almost 60% of the hectares were devoted to the Biloxi variety. In 2022 that variety only accounts for 25% of the hectares. It has been displaced by the Ventura blueberry, which now has a 33% share,” he said.
Logistical costs
Despite the increase in volumes, agro-exporters are being affected by the high costs of maritime freight, which end up affecting the entrepreneurs' profit margins, Vegas stated.
Shipping costs have increased by $3,000 to 5,000 per container, depending on the market, the union stated.
Source: gestion.pe