“Imported blueberry demand grows nearly 50% over last year in India”

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Fresh blueberry availability in India is currently tight, with air shipments from Peru dropping from 70 tonnes per week in September to just 30 tonnes in November, says Sharath Loganathan of Ninjacart Global. “Peru is the only active origin supplying the market right now, but production there is around 25 percent below early projections.”

According to Loganathan, “Many Peruvian farms are also grappling with size issues in the later part of the season, producing more berries below the 14 mm size preferred by Indian buyers.” He notes that most imports are coming via the Netherlands’ wholesale ecosystem, which has kept supply reasonable so far. “However, we expect these Holland-routed volumes to gradually reduce in the coming weeks as the Peruvian season progresses.”

© NinjaGlobal

Quality this season has been mixed, with over 95 percent of imported blueberries originating from Peru. “While Madeira has performed consistently well, certain dominant varieties showed unexpected variability early on. The market has required more active selection compared to last year,” Loganathan explains. Prices reflect the tighter supply. “Pricing is currently at USD 15 to 17 CIF in the Netherlands, up from USD 12 to 13 CIF during the same period last year. This firming comes from lower volumes and stricter quality picks at origin.”

Loganathan notes how Chile stepped up meaningfully last season during January-February and should do so again, offering a supply bridge as Peruvian fruit tapers. “Although less firm than what Indian consumers favor, Chilean berries provide reliable volumes. Demand for imported blueberries remains strong regardless, up nearly 50 percent year-over-year, especially from organized retail and e-commerce. Tier 2 cities are showing strong double-digit growth, and consistent brands are gaining higher recall in wholesale.”

© NinjaGlobal

Domestic production typically enters the market from February to May, coinciding with the end of the Peru season. The two supply windows work well together, Loganathan shares. “This year, domestic supply is expected to arrive earlier, around mid-January. But despite Indian berries gaining visibility, there is still a strong preference for imported berries in premium channels due to their consistency and well-established quality benchmarks.” He adds, “Newer origins like Poland and Georgia have entered the market, but their quality and volumes don’t yet rival Peru. South Africa looks promising for the future as import protocols open.”

Looking ahead, supply and quality are expected to hold steady through mid-December. Loganathan predicts that from late December to early February, things may tighten as Peruvian volumes drop before Chile scales up. “The focus will be on managing quality and supply continuity during that window,” he concludes.

For more information:
Sharath Loganathan
NinjaGlobal
Tel: +91 80 50 064 652
Email: [email protected]
www.ninjacart.com

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Source: The Plantations International Agroforestry Group of Companies