Peru eyes Japan, Korea, and Indonesia for next blueberry export wave

Peru is looking to grow its blueberry exports by entering new Asian markets such as Indonesia, Japan, and South Korea. While exports to China have been increasing steadily, industry leaders believe there is still untapped potential in the region. With support from Senasa (the National Agrarian Health Service), they hope to gain market access to more countries in the coming years. This outlook was shared by the general manager of Pro-Blueberries, Luis Miguel Vegas, on the first day of the XXXVII International Seminar Blueberries Trujillo 2025.

At the same time, there is an emphasis on maintaining strong relationships with existing buyers. Authorities from destination countries regularly visit Peru to verify export readiness, leaving no room for mistakes.

The blueberry sector has played a major role in local development. As a labour-intensive crop, it creates thousands of formal, well-paid jobs, especially in rural areas where state support is limited. The growth of the industry has brought tangible improvements to many communities.

In 2025, exports rose by more than 400 tonnes, continuing an upward trend. The only recent setback was in 2023, when the El Niño phenomenon led to lower volumes than expected.

Despite this growth, logistics remain a challenge. Currently, 86% of exports are shipped through just two ports — Callao and Paita — creating a bottleneck. The industry is calling for increased use of other ports like Salaverry and Chancay, more cabotage options, and better coordination among logistics providers to support future expansion.

source: blueberriesconsulting.com

photo: fruitprocess.com