On the global market, import prices of blueberries are subject to a decline during the season, which is perfectly shown, for example, by the prices of these fruits on store shelves - in December, these berries can be purchased at a similar price as in July or August. The global trend, which experts have already pointed out, is worrying, i.e. the increase in production costs while blueberry prices are stagnating. This trend causes the efficiency and productivity of plantations to come to the fore, which leads to an intensive exchange of varieties.
Production
In terms of average blueberry yields, Poland, with a yield of 5.75 tons per hectare, is quite average compared to various production regions. Globally, the average yield is estimated at 8.9 tons per hectare. In Chile, an average of 9 tons per hectare is harvested, while in Peru, it's even 14 tons per hectare. These data highlight the level of competition in the market and the opportunities available in other regions. The value of blueberry production in Poland amounts to approximately PLN 1 billion annually, or about 2.5% of the global production value, which is estimated at around USD 10 billion.
In 2022-2023, Poland's blueberry trade balance was negative, amounting to EUR 6.4 million, indicating that the value of imports exceeded exports. The data on the scale of domestic blueberry plantings is interesting. A comparison between 2018 and 2022 shows that the area of cultivation in Poland has doubled, from 5,809 hectares to 11,899 hectares (8,334 registered farms), but the average plantation size has decreased by half, to 1.42 hectares in 2022. This indicates that while the total production area is growing, it is primarily happening on small farms that are not focused on industrial-scale production.
Source: Agroberichten Buitneland