Argentinean blueberry exports are forecast to fall by 15 per cent during 2009/10 to approximately 9,000-9,500 tonnes, down from the pre-season estimate of 12,000 tonnes, according to a report by Portal Frutícola.
Up to week 43, shipments from the South American country have reached some 1,043 tonnes – 50 per cent less than at the same time during the 2008/09 season.
The shortfall is attributable largely to inclement weather conditions in the central and northern regions of the country, the report said, particularly in the main blueberry-production area of Tucumán.
According to Argentina’s National Meteorological Service, temperatures in Tucumán have exceeded averages of the last 50 years, reaching as high as 45oC in October, a factor which has reportedly caused overripening and quality issues in the blueberry crop.
Over the next few years, local industry players suggest Argentinean blueberry exports will undergo a necessary period of stabilisation, following the initial exponential growth in volume.
