[Text/Watchman Network Wang Yi] "Peru plans to export more blueberries to China." The Reuters reported on June 11 that with their largest buyer the United States launching a tariff war against all trading partners, blueberry growers in Peru are turning to seek new markets. With its huge demand, the official opening of the Chancay Port in Peru at the end of last year has significantly shortened the maritime transportation time between the two countries, "there is a great opportunity in the Chinese market".

Miguel Bentín, general manager of Valle y Pampa Farm in Peru, told Reuters, "The full potential of our products in the Chinese market has not been fully realized," this year they will re-adjust the export quotas for different markets.

It was introduced that usually 60% of the farm's blueberries are shipped to the United States, and the rest are sold to Europe, but this year, they plan to make their first large shipment to China.

Screenshot of Peruvian fruit merchants

The blueberry industry in Peru has only developed in recent ten years. The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) pointed out in a report released in April this year that from 2010 to 2015, the proportion of Peru's blueberry production in the global total was less than 2%, but it has rapidly expanded in recent years and has risen to become one of the largest blueberry producing countries in the world.

The report said that the warm climate along the coast of Peru allows growers to choose the most favorable time for harvest, which is from September to November each year. During this period, the harvest season of major North American blueberry producers such as the United States ends, and Peru's blueberries enter the market at this time, avoiding competition with them and expanding exports by taking advantage of the market gap.

Benefiting from the free trade agreement signed between the two countries in 2009 and geographical advantages, the United States has long been the largest buyer of Peru's blueberries. But as blueberry production continues to increase, Peru also began to seek new export markets.

Reuters said that according to the introduction of six Peruvian officials, after Peru surpassed Chile to become the world's largest blueberry exporter in 2021, they have accelerated their pace of seeking new agricultural export markets in Asia, Europe, and Oceania.

Úrsula León, Peru's Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism, said last month that blueberries increased Peru's total export value by about $2.3 billion last year, and blueberry production is expected to grow by 25% from 2025 to 2026. However, now, US tariffs may affect Peru's booming blueberry industry.

Peru is negotiating tariffs with the United States, accusing the United States of violating the free trade agreement between the two countries. After meeting with the Trump administration, León said, "If the US tariff measures remain unchanged, the export volume will be affected", and Peru intends to turn to markets with growth potential such as China, India, and Indonesia.

"This will not be a mild impact, but quite significant," Gabriel Amaro, head of the Peruvian Agricultural Producers Association, said. Farmers are lobbying the government to find ways to mitigate the impact of tariffs and protect the free trade agreement. "Our strategy is market diversification. We have a range of products waiting to open up the Asian market."

Screenshot of Chancay Port

Peru is the first Latin American country to sign a comprehensive free trade agreement with China. China has been the largest trading partner and export market of Peru for 10 consecutive years. The officially opened Chancay Port during the 31st Informal Leaders' Meeting of APEC last year provides a shortcut for Peruvian fruits to enter the Chinese market.

Chancay Port, controlled by COSCO Shipping Ports Limited, is a natural deep-water port, known as the "gateway from South America to Asia". It aims to promote trade between China and countries such as Peru and Brazil.

However, this project aimed at promoting bilateral trade has been watched by the United States since its construction. The Wall Street Journal reported last year that once the port controlled by Chinese capital is completed, it may become the "first real global business center" in South America, so the United States is concerned about China increasing its influence in the "backyard". There are informed sources revealing that US officials tried to hype up the "China threat" and "military security" to obstruct it, but were ignored by the Peruvian side.

Reuters said that the port cuts the maritime transportation time from South America to Asia in half, to around 20 days, which is a significant advantage for maintaining the freshness of fruits.

Federico Maggio, production service manager of Peruvian international fruit supplier Gambosan, told Chinese media that with the opening of the Chancay Port, "we will ship more and better quality blueberries to China. We plan to expand planting areas to meet the demand of the Chinese market."

It was reported that on December 18 last year, the first cargo ship loaded with 20,000 tons of Peruvian blueberries, avocados, grapes, mangoes, etc., set sail from the Chancay Port and arrived at the Yangshan Port in Shanghai after 23 days of navigation.

Fruitist, an American fruit company, produces most of its blueberries in Peru and is one of the largest blueberry exporters in Peru. At the end of last year, the company shipped about 15 to 18 containers of blueberries to China via the Chancay Port. John Early, global sales director of the company, said that the Chancay Port has changed the maritime transportation of "all fresh fruits from Peru", allowing Peruvian fruit merchants to see a "great opportunity" in expanding their business in China.

"The Chancay Port, especially its cost and faster shipping time, is a game-changer," Bentín, who plans to sell blueberries to China this year, said hopefully.

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