Argentina’s 2010/11 blueberry exports have arrived on export markets two weeks earlier than last season with a larger supply than anticipated, according to the Argentinean Blueberry Committee.

Sendings during week 42 (18 to 24 October) were up by 400 tonnes (reaching 1,140t) on the same period last year, causing prices to fall considerably by the end of the week, the committee said in a press release.

Aside from the larger volume, the downturn was attributable largely to a contraction in demand, coupled with a lack of in-store promotions for the fruit, which have not yet begun.

Despite the earlier-than-normal start, the committee said it expects total exports of blueberries from Argentina in 2010/11 to match expectations of between 12,000tand 12,500t, up from 10,473t last season.

Supplies during the rest of this season are forecast to be stable, and once promotions get underway next week the committee predicts that fruit will move more quickly and stocks will clear.

So far this season, Argentina has shipped 2,214tof blueberries, compared with 1,213tin 2009/10, according to committee data.

Of that total, some 1,648t were sent to the US, with 469t headed to the EU and 90t to Asia.

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