Peruvian engineer and politician Fernando Cillóniz, director of Inform@acción, contributed to the 2025 iQonsulting International Blueberry Market Yearbook with insights on the 2024/2025 Peruvian blueberry season. Cillóniz noted that Peru exported a record volume of 317 tons of fresh blueberries by the end of April 2025, surpassing the previous record of 280 tons from the 2022/2023 season. This achievement underscores Peru's leadership in global blueberry production and export.
Once the "hot winter" phenomenon affecting the 2023/2024 season subsided, production regained momentum. "Since the start of commercial blueberry cultivation in 2013, the sector has continued to show dynamism," Cillóniz remarked. Blueberries retained their position as Peru's primary export crop, reaching an FOB value of US$ 2,121 billion, a 14% increase from the previous year.
Despite increasing export volumes, FOB prices remained stable, with an average price of US$ 6.69 per kilo for the 2024/2025 season. This demonstrates strong international demand and the sector's capacity to offer high-value products.
The cultivated area grew from 19,269 hectares in 2023 to 20,753 hectares in 2024, compared to 1,900 hectares in 2016. La Libertad, Lambayeque, and Ica are leading regions, while Lima, Ancash, and Piura experience growth. Ventura has become the most cultivated variety, surpassing Biloxi, with Rocío, Emerald, Sekoya, and Mágica also prominent. This shift is due to a preference for varieties better suited to warm climates with higher productivity and quality.
Future growth is anticipated with new production areas, particularly in Ica, entering the market in 2025 and 2026. This expansion requires mechanization, automation, and strict cost and quality control. Cillóniz warns that producers lacking innovation and efficiency could be excluded from the market. He stresses the importance of adopting advanced technologies and varieties to maintain leadership.
Investment in the sector is buoyed by international capital, with foreign companies and investment funds acquiring assets, confirming the business's profitability. The challenge remains to produce efficiently, sustainably, and profitably, ensuring that Peru's blueberry sector maintains its global competitiveness.
Source: Blueberries Consulting