In 2023, the global blueberry industry saw its cultivation area expand to 267,000 hectares, marking a 7.23% increase from the previous year's 249,000 hectares. This growth trend has been consistent over the past years, with recorded areas of 237,000 hectares in 2021, 219,000 hectares in 2020, and 201,000 hectares in 2019, according to Fluctuante's report based on International Blueberry Organization (IBO) data. Latin America emerged as the leading region in blueberry cultivation, accounting for 113,000 hectares or 42.32% of the total area in 2023, followed by the Asia/Pacific region, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Africa.
The year 2023 also witnessed significant production volumes, totaling 1.779.545 tons globally. China, the United States, and Peru were the top three producers, contributing to 88% of the world's blueberry output. China alone was responsible for 32% of the total production, followed by the United States at 16% and Peru at 13%.
However, global blueberry exports experienced a downturn, decreasing by 12% to 748,000 tons in 2023 from 850,000 tons the previous year, primarily due to climatic challenges impacting major exporting countries. Despite this reduction, Peru maintained its position as the world's leading blueberry exporter, contributing to 28% of the total exports, with Chile, Canada, and Spain following.
On the import front, the total volume reached 822,917 tons in 2023. The United States and the Netherlands were the largest importers, collectively accounting for 48% of the total imports. The main supplying countries to the United States included Peru, Canada, Mexico, and Chile, while the European Union's primary suppliers were Peru, Spain, Morocco, and the Netherlands.
Source: Blueberries Consulting