Argentina exported 3,982.2 metric tons of blueberries in the second half of November, a 30% increase over the same period in 2009, according to customs statistics reported by agriculture news site infocampo.com.ar.

The shipments had an average value of US $6.13 per kilogram, down slightly from $6.25/kg during the same period in 2009, when 3,065.2 MT were shipped.

Of the 979 operations registered from Nov. 16-30, 27 declared prices equal to or above US$ 10/kg, while 579 registered values of US $6 or less, the website said.

According to the report, 68% of international sales took place in the U.S., while 22.8% were posted in Europe and 7.2% in Canada.

In the first half of November, Argentina shipped 4,970 MT of blueberries with an average value of $7.18/kg.

Shipments that arrived in the U.S. before Thanksgiving fetched a higher price than those that arrived after, the report said.

Photo: www.inta.gov.ar

Source: www.freshfruitportal.com

Related news: For Argentina's blueberries, low prices don’t match high quality