The quality and condition of Peruvian blueberries have made the country the world’s largest exporter and a benchmark in various destinations. However, climatic factors and the early harvest led Proarándanos—the country’s association of producers and exporters—to adjust its production estimates for the 2025-2026 season: from an initial projection of 400 million kilos, the figure was reduced to 369.655 million kilos, a 7% decline from the October projection.

Miguel Bentín, president of Proarándanos and general manager of Valle y Pampa Perú, explained this to Blueberries News: “We have adjusted production. As the volumes are very large, it has a significant impact. It is a major adjustment.”

Bentín added that this year saw a more normal winter—something that had not happened for three years—which led to a significant advance in the season. “The vast majority of production took place between week 18, before the peak, with increases of more than 100% in the volume delivered compared to previous seasons. This was compounded by decreases in size, attributable to phenological changes and pruning practices aimed at modifying production curves.”

Markets: Between global consolidation and new opportunities

The United States, Europe, and Asia continue to be the main destinations for Peruvian blueberries, which are key to promoting their quality and health benefits.

Bentín explained that this season is approaching typical distribution patterns: “The US accounts for around 50%, Asia for 10-12%, and Europe for the remainder, excluding the Middle East and regional markets. What we have noticed is that at the beginning of the year, the US was low and Asia was high in terms of share of supply shipped. This is due to a number of possible reasons; one is the improved logistics accessibility through the port of Chancay, which presented an opportunity to bring the Asian market closer to the equivalent of Europe, i.e., almost the same transit time.”

The president of Proarándanos added that, although there are challenges in terms of costs and efficiency, the combined use of Callao and Chancay (and Pisco) has made it possible to relieve congestion and optimize fruit distribution.

The executive highlighted the appeal of the Chinese market, driven by the greater availability of quality fruit and varietal renewal focused on high-value genetics. “Another very important factor is the 10% tariffs in the US, which make the American market less competitive for our fruit; that is, an artificial surcharge that reduces our competitiveness in the market, but also makes the US less attractive for high-value offerings. We don’t know what will happen with the tariffs or how we will grow in the Asian market, as demand is in the US and Europe, which is showing signs of leading the way in demand growth.”

Seeking to expand into new markets, Peru gained access to Indonesia in the second half of the year, in addition to making progress in Bolivia and the Dominican Republic.

For Proarándanos, the priority is clear: “More markets are better. If you have the right product for each market, you will not saturate them; therefore, you have more opportunities to develop them. For this reason, the ‘other markets’ segment has been growing. Although it is a small proportion of the total supply, there is a noticeable expansion towards regional markets, the Middle East, and other Asian countries,” Bentín pointed out.

The country continues to work toward entering South Korea and Japan, where Bentín estimated concrete progress within the next five years.

Varieties: New genetics boost competitiveness

Peru is renowned for its varietal mix, which is key to its global competitiveness. Although Biloxi and Ventura continue to be widely planted, new genetics such as Sekoya Pop and Mágica have gained prominence.

Bentín highlighted that Sekoya Pop, part of the Fall Creek program, is now the second most widely planted variety in the country, followed by Mágica, which is poised to surpass Biloxi. “The Peruvian industry is transitioning to a model of continuous genetic renewal. A blueberry plant will likely be replaced before the end of its useful life, because better genetics will always be coming along.”

The president of Proarándanos explained that a good variety offers two advantages: first, in terms of production: adaptability, resistance, earliness, ease of harvesting; second, in terms of marketing: post-harvest, shelf life, size, crunchiness, flavor, and appearance.

For Bentín, a higher-quality product allows for differentiation in the market, thereby generating a distinct preference for one variety over another, or for one group over others. “When you create differentiation, you move away from what we don’t want: commoditization, which is the greatest loss of value. Today we have results, there is demand. The market is showing its ability to absorb the product at a good value. That must be the way forward; we cannot stray from that focus, as it is the main factor for sustainability,” he added.

In terms of hectares, according to Proarándanos, based on Senasa records as of October, the country has 26,428 hectares of blueberries in the 2025-2026 season:

  • La Libertad: 11,194 ha.
  • Lambayeque: 6,879 ha.
  • Ica: 3,603 ha.

Bentín anticipated moderate growth in surface area, accompanied by improvements in areas that are already productive.

Challenges and opportunities of the campaign

The current season has had a lower peak than the historic record set in the previous campaign. Even so, cumulative production increased by 15%, albeit with a lower peak, which led to greater concentration and prolongation of volume in the middle of the season.

This involved intense logistical demands: harvesting, availability of storage space, and transportation. Added to this were tariffs that affected competitiveness with the US, along with the obligation to consistently produce high-value fruit. “I think that lesson has been learned and I hope it sticks. We know that this is our future,” said Bentín.

For the executive, the key to opportunities lies in producing the best possible fruit, promoting new consumption channels, intensifying international promotion, and ensuring that all markets receive high-value fruit. “You can no longer sell just any blueberry in the world. Expectations are becoming increasingly demanding,” he concluded.