Blueberry Exports Collapse in Peru: Impact and Consequences

Published 2023년 10월 12일

Peru's blueberry export industry faces a catastrophic decline, with severe implications for the global market. The Peruvian blueberry export campaign for 2023 has been marred by an array of challenging factors, driven by the El Niño phenomenon, which has led to a 62% reduction in exports compared to the previous year. As of week 36, only 40.52 thousand mt have been exported, while 65.64 thousand were exported by this week last year. This plummeting supply has far-reaching repercussions, causing a significant surge in blueberry prices worldwide and prompting a reevaluation of industry practices to adapt to the changing climate.

Peru, the global heavyweight in blueberry exports, is grappling with a dire situation in its blueberry export campaign for 2023, and the repercussions are reverberating worldwide. A culmination of factors, primarily driven by the El Niño phenomenon, has cast a significant shadow over the Peruvian blueberry industry. As of mid-September, the export volume of blueberries from Peru has dwindled dramatically, plummeting by a staggering 62% compared to the previous year.

During week 36, the Peruvian blueberry export campaign experienced a temporary upturn, with the highest volume of shipments recorded. Despite this uptick, the export figures were still a substantial 62% less compared to the same period in 2022. In this particular week, Peruvian blueberries reached a staggering 27 countries, with a clear concentration of 88% of total exports directed to three key nations: the United States (US) with 53%, the Netherlands with 24%, and China with 10%.

Source: TDS

China, a prominent market for Peruvian blueberries, witnessed a nearly sevenfold reduction in shipments, with a meager fraction of blueberries exported in comparison to the previous year. The US, another pivotal market, also saw a sharp decline in Peruvian blueberry imports, decreasing by 2.5 times. Notably, in week 36, exports to the US tumbled by a staggering 64%, with just 3.51 thousand metric tons (mt) of blueberries crossing the border. Even the Netherlands, a consistent buyer of Peruvian blueberries, witnessed a decline of 66% in their purchases during week 26.

Peru's dominance in the global blueberry export industry is evident in its remarkable export volume, which stood at 273 thousand mt of fresh blueberries in 2022, accounting for over USD 1.35 billion in export value. To put this in perspective, Ukraine, a budding blueberry exporter, achieved a record of 2.5 thousand mt in 2022, a mere fraction compared to Peru's monumental share of the global market.

The consequences of Peru's ailing blueberry export industry reverberate across the global market. The reduced supply from Peru has led to a substantial price increase, and blueberry prices are now significantly higher than in the same period of 2022. In Poland, blueberry prices surged by a staggering 55% week-on-week (WoW), reaching an impressive USD 9.13 per kilogram (kg) compared to the previous USD 5.98/kg. The price hike is attributed to a supply shortage, primarily as Poland and Ukraine, the prominent blueberry suppliers, are nearing the conclusion of their respective seasons. Additionally, the decline in blueberry imports, mainly from Peru, has compounded the price surge.

Ukraine has witnessed a similar trend, with the average price for blueberries in September 2023 soaring by 62% compared to the previous year. The main driver of this increase is the stark reduction in blueberry exports from Peru, emphasizing the interconnectedness of the global blueberry market. In fact, prices in Ukraine increased by 57% in Sept-23 compared to August, while in the previous year, prices in September and August remained relatively stable.

The meteorological shifts attributed to climate change, coupled with the El Niño phenomenon, have taken a toll on Peruvian blueberry plantations, resulting in diminished yields. The dire circumstances of the 2023 season have raised concerns within the industry, prompting a reevaluation of blueberry cultivation practices and varietal choices. This pivotal shift is vital for adapting to the volatile climate conditions threatening blueberry growers in Peru.

As the 2023 blueberry season unfolds, one thing remains clear: the far-reaching consequences of Peru's blueberry export decline have sent ripples across the globe, profoundly affecting the supply and pricing dynamics of the blueberry commodity. It also raises questions about the resilience and adaptability of the blueberry industry in the face of climate change and other emerging challenges.