Peru Shifts Blueberry Exports to China Amid US Tariffs

Peru's Blueberry Industry and US Tariffs

• 🫐 For over a decade, Peru has been a major supplier of blueberries to the US market.
• ⚠️ New US tariffs are impacting the profitability of these exports, with a 10% tariff making the produce more expensive.
• 📈 The booming blueberry sector, which boosted Peru's exports by $2.3 billion last year, faces a potential slowdown due to these tariffs.

China as a Growing Market

• 🌏 Peruvian growers are increasingly looking towards China as a significant alternative market.
• 💰 China's demand for blueberries is described as "insatiable."
• 🚢 A new Chinese-built port near Lima has cut shipping times to China in half, to approximately 20 days, which is crucial for keeping fruit fresh.

Impact on Exporters

• 📊 Baja Farm, a major blueberry producer, is planning its first large shipment to China this year to mitigate the impact of US tariffs.
• 📉 While US shipments dipped in the first quarter, exports to China saw an increase from a lower base.
• 🚀 The farm manager views the new Chinese-controlled port as a "game-changer" for accessing Asian markets.

Blueberry Production Innovations

• 🌱 Thanks to genetic innovations, blueberry varieties like Eureka Sunset can now grow in arid landscapes such as the Pisco Desert.
• 💡 The farm began production in 2012, and its harvest is now ten times larger than it was then.