China continues to expand its blueberry industry, with new plantings planned for 2026 set to further increase the country’s production capacity. According to the 2026 Global Blueberry Report by the International Blueberry Organization (IBO), one source interviewed for the report projects between 7,000 and 10,000 hectares of new blueberry plantings in Yunnan alone this year.
The province is the country’s leading southern highbush blueberry production hub and continues to attract new projects. The report notes that part of this expansion is being driven by small growers switching from greenhouse crops such as tomatoes and peppers, and even table grapes, to blueberries. At the same time, there is growing interest in exploring new production areas.
New plantings are also expanding into regions neighboring Yunnan. These include Sichuan, China’s fourth-largest blueberry-producing province. Its higher elevations and cooler temperatures allow for a slightly later production window, although spring rains and high temperatures during harvest pose challenges for fruit quality.
From major producer to exporter
Production expansion is being accompanied by another significant shift for the global industry. China, already the world’s largest blueberry producer, is increasing its presence as a supplier to other Asian markets.
According to the report, the country has become the fifth-largest exporter of fresh blueberries to Asian destinations by volume and the third-largest by value. The IBO expects this presence to continue growing as acreage expands in Yunnan and production continues to increase, leading China to direct a larger share of its supply to export markets.
This shift is already becoming evident in Southeast Asia. In March and April 2026, China recorded two consecutive monthly records for blueberry export volumes to the region. Although its shipments remained below Peru’s in volume terms during 2025, the gap between the two origins was narrower in terms of export value.
This development is also taking place in a region where consumption and imports continue to grow. In 2025, fresh blueberry imports into Southeast Asia increased by more than 20%, while markets such as Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam recorded growth of 35%, 65% and 83%, respectively.
New plantings and rising production are extending the reach of China’s blueberry industry beyond its domestic market. As shipments to other Asian countries increase, the world’s largest blueberry producer is also gaining ground as an exporter.
