Global blueberry market faces tighter supplies and rising prices

The global blueberry market is experiencing tight supplies and high prices, particularly in several European countries, as the seasonal transition from Northern Hemisphere production to shipments from South America and Africa continues. The market is being particularly affected by reduced exports from Peru, where adverse weather conditions linked to El Niño have prompted downward revisions to production forecasts. Importers in the Netherlands, Germany and Spain report shortages and persistently high prices, while market conditions in Austria and Croatia remain relatively stable.

Peru, one of the world’s leading blueberry exporters, has lowered its shipment forecast for the 2026/27 season from 382 thsd tons to 366 thsd tons. According to industry association Proarándanos, exports could decline by 4.4% compared with the previous season, despite an approximately 15% increase in cultivated area. The sharpest decline is expected over the next eight weeks, when shipments are projected at 108 thsd tons compared with 156 thsd tons a year earlier, representing a 31.2% decrease. Meanwhile, exports to the US increased at the beginning of the season, but strong early shipments are unlikely to offset the expected reduction in supplies over the coming months.

In the European market, limited supplies of Peruvian blueberries are already supporting high prices. In the Netherlands, importers expect conditions to become even more challenging in late November and early December, when shipments from Peru will remain limited and substantial volumes from Chile will not yet have arrived. In Germany, shortages are prompting retailers to switch from traditional 500 g packs to smaller 250 g or even 125 g packages, while further price increases cannot be ruled out. In Spain, the situation is complicated by the end of the domestic season, with significant volumes of the new crop not expected until late January.

Reduced supplies from Peru are creating additional opportunities for other exporting countries. South Africa, in particular, has started its season under favorable conditions and forecasts blueberry exports at 27 thsd tons. Local producers expect shortages of Peruvian fruit to support higher purchase prices in Europe and the UK. Meanwhile, Morocco increased its fresh blueberry exports by 6% to 89 thsd tons in the 2025/26 season, although high temperatures and water availability remain production risks. Mexico expects a harvest of around 90 thsd tons in 2026, of which approximately 75 thsd tons are intended for export.

Despite current supply challenges, global demand for blueberries continues to grow. Consumption is expanding particularly rapidly in Italy, where, 38% of households purchased blueberries in the year ending August 2026, an increase of almost 10 percentage points over the previous two years. Demand growth is supported by the expansion of retail sales and the introduction of new varieties with improved flavor and longer shelf life. Future global price developments will depend on actual export volumes from Peru, the arrival of substantial shipments from Chile and the ability of other producers to offset seasonal shortages. At the same time, weather-related risks and high production costs will continue to affect the profitability of the industry.

Tags: EU, prices, blueberry