Peru holds onto mantle of world’s top blueberry exporter

Peru was the world’s top blueberry exporter for the fourth straight year, with shipments totalling US$1.36 billion in 2022. Peru held off competition from the US, Spain, Canada and Morocco, according to the Global Business and Economics Research Center of the Exporters Association CIEN-ADEX.

Between 2020 and 2021, export volumes increased by 172% and reached a value of US$1.2 million thanks to expanded production area in Piura and Moquegua. Peru now boasts a portfolio that features over 65 varieties, with Ventura and Biloxi representing around 58% of total production. Other leading varieties include Rocío, Emerald, Sekoya Pop, Atlas Blue, and Sekoya Beauty.

The US remains the main importer of Peruvian blueberries, with 51% of the volume (US$31 million), followed by the Netherlands with 27% (US$19.5 million), the UK (US$6 million), China (US$6 million), Hong Kong (US$ 2 million), Thailand, Ireland, Spain, Israel and Brazil.

“These good results are the product of more than 10 years of investment by companies. We have a product that we hope will continue to grow, for which we need a stable legal framework that promotes private activity,” said the head of ADEX Consulting, Lizbeth Pumasunco.