Japan has historically been Australia’s best blueberry export market in Asia, but in recent years the balance has been shifting away from the second largest economy in the world.
Blueberry consumption in Japan has stayed relatively flat over the last few seasons, to an extent that most global marketers consider it completely mature with little opportunity for growth.
“Japan hasn’t gone anywhere in the last 12 months,” said Peter McPherson, general manager of Berry Exchange. “In Australia the total volume has about caught up to Japan, which has six times the population.”
The situation has not been helped this year by the drop in the Japanese economy, according to Keita Watari, president of major importer Watari Co.
“The demand for fresh blueberries seems to be down due to the economic situation today,” he told Fruitnet.com. “Anyway, we did not find it increasing any more even before the financial crisis took place last year.”
Imports have also been put under pressure by increasing production levels within Japan. While the country’s summer production peak does not coincide with Southern Hemisphere producers like Australia, it has proved a threat for the US, which remains Japan’s main supplier of blueberries.
Increasing production of blueberries in Asia will change the game for suppliers outside the region, said Mr Watari.
“It wouldn't be a surprise that the global distributions of blueberries will change dramatically in future if the production increases so much in Asia,” he explained.
“That's very possible. And if that happens, I assume the market or retail price of blueberries will come down a lot, which will increase the consumption of blueberries worldwide.”
