The new season of Peruvian blueberries has been available in the Chinese market since late July, but arrival volumes remain low. Andy Xie from Shanghai Junli International Trading Co., Ltd. shared insights on the current situation of Peruvian blueberries.
"Due to a decrease in last season's Peruvian blueberry production, local growers delayed pruning and harvesting. Additionally, this year's climate has further impacted production, leading to significant delays and low early arrivals." Despite the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival, Andy noted that the festive atmosphere has not significantly influenced the blueberry market, primarily due to the supply shortage.
"The low arrival volume, combined with unsaturated market demand and shortages across various channels and secondary wholesale markets, has driven blueberry prices to an exceptionally high level, with no clear trend at the moment," Andy explained.
He anticipates peak production for this season around the 44th week, with concentrated arrivals in the domestic market expected in mid-to-late November. These increased arrivals could potentially put pressure on market sales.
Regarding current shipments, Andy mentioned that the main varieties arriving now are Sekoya, Emerald, and Ventura. In terms of size, traditional varieties are mostly 16mm+, while Sekoya is 18mm+ and above. "Overall quality is stable and has improved compared to last year," he said.
On market trends, Andy noted: "The demand for fresh blueberries in China has risen significantly, stimulated by domestic Yunnan blueberries, while current supplies remain limited. Additionally, many companies are investing heavily in research and development of new blueberry varieties due to the strong profits in the market, leading to positive growth in the blueberry sector."
Peruvian blueberries are a key product for Junli Trading this season, and the company is actively promoting them. "We are collaborating with core suppliers to boost sales on online platforms like Douyin and Xiaohongshu, along with related brand promotion initiatives."
Shanghai Junli Trading's main product categories include cherries, blueberries, plums, apples, durians, and dragon fruits, with a focus on both market stalls and e-commerce channels.