Export volume of blueberries will double in 2017-18
South Africa
Monday 13 November 2017
FJ
South Africa has about 1,600 hectares of blueberries and 50% of plantations are less than 2 years old, which augurs a future increase in production.
Despite the negative effects of drought affecting several regions, South Africa is expected to double its blueberry exports to 8,000 tonnes in 2017-18.
SABPA (South African Berry Producers Association) has announced that total blueberry production is expected to increase from 5,869 tonnes to about 11,000 tonnes with new plantings. With this expected production volume, the association estimates that exports will total 8,000 tonnes this season.
Blueberry exports reached 2,500 tonnes in 2015/16 and 4,000 tonnes in 2016/17, of which 58% were shipped to the United Kingdom, 32% to the EU, 6% to Africa, 3% to Asia and 1% to the Middle East.
source : iol.co.za, gain fas usda gov
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