Chilean blueberry export forecast up 2.7 percent as new varieties drive supply shift

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The Chilean blueberry industry delivered a late-season surprise for global buyers, shipping more fruit than expected during the 2025–26 season. The Andean country’s Blueberry Committee reported total exports of 92,900 metric tons, or about 204.8 million pounds, up 2.7 percent from the prior season and above initial projections.

Andrés Armstrong, executive director of the Committee, said growth came largely from newer genetics, which continue to reshape Chile’s export profile.

A 14 percent increase in shipments of new varieties offset a one percent decline in traditional varieties, extending an ongoing transition in the country’s blueberry sector.

“This reflects the transformation process underway in the Chilean blueberry industry, where the introduction of new genetics is driving growth in export volumes and reducing the supply of traditional varieties in the fresh market,” the Committee said.

Armstrong said unusual global supply conditions helped Chile move more fruit late in the season.

“The early availability of domestic supply and production issues in other countries created a gap in the market at the end of our season, which allowed us to ship more fruit than expected of traditional varieties—fruit that in a normal season would have been frozen,” he said.

Europe takes the lead as US volumes fall

Europe was the top destination for Chilean blueberries, receiving 46,768 metric tons, or about 103.1 million pounds. This accounted for 50 percent of total exports and marked a 20 percent year-over-year increase.

Within Europe, the Netherlands posted a 25 percent increase in volume, while shipments to England rose five percent, according to the Committee.

The United States ranked second, taking 37 percent of Chile’s exports. However, volumes to the US declined 13 percent, which the Committee attributed to tariff and trade challenges.

Canada recorded a 32 percent increase in imports from Chile.

Shipments to Asia fell seven percent overall due to lower exports to China, although Taiwan and South Korea posted gains of 84 percent and 11 percent, respectively.

In Latin America, exports rose 11.7 percent, led by Argentina and Brazil, which together accounted for 88 percent of the region’s total.

New Chilean blueberry varieties gain ground

New blueberry varieties represented 24 percent of Chile’s total exports this season, up from 21 percent a year earlier, underscoring the industry’s ongoing shift toward newer genetics.

Production remained concentrated in Chile’s south-central growing regions. Maule accounted for 37 percent of shipments, followed by Ñuble with 26 percent, according to the Committee.

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Chilean Blueberry Committee is awarded by the North American Blueberry Council