Logistics was the biggest challenge in 2024/25, according to Chilean Blueberry Committee
Chile’s 2024/25 blueberry export season has ended with a 5 per cent increase in shipments. Andrés Armstrong, executive director of the Chilean Blueberry Committee, said more than 90,000 tonnes of fresh blueberries were exported, 12 per cent higher than the volume estimated at the outset of the season, breaking the downward trend seen in recent campaigns.
“The most significant fact this season is not the growth itself, but rather the increased share of new varieties in total shipments,” he said. “These increased by 50 per cent compared to last season and accounted for 21 per cent of exports. This season clearly demonstrated the adaptation work the Chilean industry is doing in the face of increased market competition, making significant progress in renewing plantations.”
The volume of blueberries destined for frozen reached 60,000 tonnes, remaining within projections and representing 40 per cent of Chile’s total exports. “Thus, total blueberry exports, including fresh and frozen, reached 150,000 tonnes, a 15 per cent increase compared to last season and 8 per cent higher than estimated,” Armstrong stated.
Armstrong noted that it was “a difficult year, not only due to increased market competition and the resulting pressure on prices, but also due to logistics that presented serious complications”.
He explained that services were overwhelmed by the large volume of fruit, both from Chile (cherries and blueberries) and Peru (blueberries), which caused significant delays in inspections and other services, resulting in cargo that could not be shipped on the scheduled date and vessel. Furthermore, there was a lack of shipping services and containers in adequate condition, as well as Controlled Atmospheres (CA) containers.
Shipments were also affected by storms and the shutdown of US East Coast ports.
“All of this ultimately affected the result, as we had the fruit, but lacked the logistics to deliver it all on time, in the required condition and quality. Therefore, it is an issue we are addressing, seeking and evaluating different solutions for the next season,” Armstrong said.
The committee said Chilean supply encountered greater competition than last season in all markets, especially from Peru, which returned to a more normalised shipping pattern after being severely affected by the El Niño phenomenon last year.
“This is a reality that continues to pressure our industry to renew itself and improve in all areas of the production and export process,” Armstrong noted.
In terms of markets, shipments to Europe continued their growth trend, finishing up 12 per cent compared to last season with 43 per cent of the total. This is the same share as exports to the US, whose volume remained stable. This is also true for shipments to Asia, where growth in South Korea and a decline in China were the standouts.
“The largest growth was in Latin America, with 111 per cent more volume and a 1.6 per cent share of total shipments worldwide. Argentina and Brazil were the main markets. Meanwhile, shipments to the Middle East increased by 11 per cent, representing 0.4 per cent of the total,” Armstrong concluded.
