The country’s blueberry export business is winding down as it heads towards January
In a season that has seen South African blueberry growers are beginning to cast their eyes towards the East, shipments to traditional markets are now edging ahead of the previous campaign.
By the end of week 49, the country’s blueberry exports were just ahead of last year’s shipments at the same time last season.
Exports to the EU are 16 per cent down on last year, but shipments to the UK have increased by 26 per cent.
Another region enjoying increased volumes are the Far East and Southeast Asia, with exports increasing by 27 per cent year-on-year.
So far South Africa has shipped a total 20,348 tonnes, compared with 19,500 tonnes last year.
Exports peaked in week 44 but have dropped back significantly since then, with arrivals expected to slow from this point.
The berry industry in South Africa has depended on Europe and the UK for some time but is now working behind the scenes get improved access in the East.
While China and India have been on the radar, Berries ZA has previously indicated that they it is also looking at access in Japan.
The market has reported to have been short in Europe and the UK, and there has been high demand for South African blueberries.
“This has resulted in continued pressure on access to airfreight to service markets as efficiently as possible,” an industry spokesperson noted. ”The short market situation is a function of the delay in Peru supply into South Africa’s markets.”
The Middle East has also shown growth for the country’s blueberries this season, with Berries ZA saying export volumes increased by 9 per cent compared with last year.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s northern neighbour, Zimbabwe, is also increasing exports.
When the final figures are published, Zimbabwe is expected to announce a final crop of 5,500 tonnes of blueberries for this year.
This is still less than 20 per cent of South Africa’s volumes, but industry leaders have said it is ready to grow rapidly in the next few years.
Zimbabwe’s Horticultural Development Council (HDC) chief executive Linda Nielson said Zimbabwe’s blueberry industry began with small experimental plantings in 2008.
It was not until 2017 that the country made its debut on the global market with its first commercial exports of the crop, she added.
