Blueberry Market

Global Blueberry Market Size

The global blueberry market size was valued at USD 2.65 billion in 2023. The global market is anticipated to be worth USD 4.15 billion by 2029 from USD 2.86 billion in 2024, growing at a CAGR of 7.77% from 2024 to 2029.

The global blueberry market has had prominent growth over the past few years, and this momentum is further expected to experience acceleration during the forecast period. The blueberry market has been witnessing the integration of automation and modern technologies such as artificial Intelligence for packing and grading. The blueberry market is also seeing the increased application of harvesting machines and the introduction of robotic systems in the field. For instance, runner robots give the selected fruit to transport, and UV robots address disease and lower pesticide use. Apart from this, the industry is expected to grow rapidly with increased investments and R&D efforts in new genetics. For instance, Hall Hunter has invested more than 1 million pounds in new premium types, mainly Sekoya from Fall Creek. Hence, the current dynamics of the blueberry market indicate that the market will grow rapidly in the coming years.

MARKET DRIVERS

Technological Advancements for Production and Growing Plantations

The global proliferation of blueberries, rising international trade and improvement in the cultivation capacity of countries worldwide are contributing to the surge in the market value. This is because product development has enhanced the form and operation of blueberries. Both the customers and producers have acclaimed it for its flavor, adaptability and health advantages. Its consumption pattern continues to propel the market demand by surpassing the fresh range from mud to powder. Additionally, the increased application in the pharmaceutical, food and beverage and nutraceutical & dietary supplement industries has had a direct effect on the upward trajectory of the blueberry market.

MARKET RESTRAINTS

Intense Competition in the Import Segment and Irregular Production

This insufficient cultivation, coupled with unstable prices, further hamper the progress of the global blueberry market. As a result of high costs, companies making products using blueberries are forced to utilize cheap and lower-quality substitutes. For instance, in Canada, the farmers in Nova Scotia are employing the latest technologies and putting additional time and money into their farmlands to produce more fruit, maintain a competitive advantage and strengthen their resilience to the industry's largest approaching threat “climate change”.

MARKET OPPORTUNITIES

The blueberry market has immense opportunities in Asia Pacific, the Middle East and African regions. The blueberry market is growing its footprints in North Africa and the Middle East Agadir- Morocco, Egypt, U.A.E. are the new entrants to this market. Moreover, in the Asia Pacific, India and Japan are also promising players furnishing new prospects for companies operating in the market.

MARKET CHALLENGES

The blueberry market growth is derailed by labor shortages and stringent food safety laws. Also, the mismatch between the demand and supply due to the longer growing season is constraining the industry’s development. As per the study of the last 25 years, the production season has been prolonged by around two weeks, and simultaneously, new fungal pests and weeds have begun to thrive in several regions. Moreover, the growth of the blueberry market is hindered by the regular maintenance costs for maintaining the desired quality standards in various countries.

REPORT COVERAGE

SEGMENTAL ANALYSIS

By Product Insights

The fresh segment is prevalent among the different regions engaged in the production. It holds the maximum market share in the blueberry industry because of the heightening demand for healthy ingredients and snacks in the food and beverage industry. For instance, the United States import bill for fresh blueberries was 657 million pounds, which is over two times greater than the overall US production of 622 million pounds.

The frozen segment, however, also holds a notable share of the global blueberry market during the forecast period. This can be credited to the rising consumption of smoothies, desserts, breakfast items and baked products. These are also famous among customers for their comfort, versatility and year-round availability.  

By Application Insights

The direct-to-eat segment is expected to remain the largest subsegment in the blueberry market. This can be linked to the rising customer demand for fresh, healthy snacks and ingredients. Moreover, it is popular as a premium fruit, which can be directly promoted to customers through specialty stores and supermarkets.

By End-User Insights

The food and beverages segment leads the blueberry market. This dominance is due to the greater application of blueberry as a specialty food ingredient in making flavored milk, yogurt, muffins, pancake mixes, and ice creams. Blueberries are known for their flexibility. Their use in soft drinks and ice creams, among other beverages, has increased tremendously. Furthermore, berries are more frequently included on dessert menus and within the beverage sector.

The pharmaceutical segment is also believed to experience expansion in the coming years. This can be attributed to the presence of health benefits, and it is often regarded as a superfood owing to its rich source of phytonutrients that prevent heart diseases, cancer, depression, and urinary tract infections (UTIs).

REGIONAL ANALYSIS

North America was the biggest regional segment for blueberries worldwide in 2023. North America is expected to remain dominant during the forecast period. The key factor propelling the demand for blueberries in the regional industry is the rise in the application in the food and beverage industry for various applications because of their high nutritional value. Suppliers are progressively focusing on the availability of goods in the region. According to research, the supply will be slightly better in 2024 than in 2023. Moreover, US-produced blueberries are currently getting the highest pricing in the industry as of week 15. Therefore, this will drive the regional market growth in the future.

The European blueberry market is predicted to show robust growth during the forecast period. The regional industry is primarily driven by customers in Germany and the United Kingdom. However, the UK market is near to attaining maturity. A big and growing section of the European supply is traded and packed in the Netherlands. In addition, domestic production can also be encouraged to surge imports outside of the native season, which can be observed in Spain and Poland. Additionally, in other areas of Europe, such as France and Eastern Europe, there are untapped opportunities for blueberries. Apart from this, the frozen berries industry is moving forward at a steady CAGR of about 4% to 5% yearly.

Asia Pacific is quickly rising in the blueberry market and China is showing domination in this region. It is the world’s biggest producer of blueberries and has swiftly grown in the last few years. Besides this, the development of both plantation fields and customer demand, along with current technological advancements and evolving revenue models, highlights the market’s dynamic progression. Further, various leading players have especially started the export of premium local blueberries, reflecting the industry's maturation and competitiveness worldwide. Another factor benefiting the regional market is that purchasers in APAC are more aware of several varieties than their European counterparts. South Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore are also lucrative industries because of their high income and awareness of health.

Latin America is witnessing higher growth in the blueberries market. Peru is one of the top producers and is dominating the regional industry. Also, the market is propelling due to the higher quality of berries, accelerated innovation in cultivation, increased packing and greater prioritization of sustainability across the industry. Further, Chile is also a key producer and will be accompanied by blueberries from Peru and Mexico. The region’s celebration of FeBLUEary signifies the first peak of Naturipe’s blueberry cultivation seasons. Apart from this, the expansion of Mexico has significantly risen to fifth position from the seventh spot. However, the greater difficulties in transport by sea and the labor shortage have led to a decrease in production in Chile. 

Middle East and Africa blueberry market is expected to register a moderate growth rate during the forecast period. As of May 2024, the South African (SA) blueberry season has commenced in the Northern region of the nation. As per industry experts, further development of 10 percent is predicted for SA’s exports.

KEY MARKET PLAYERS

Companies playing a noteworthy role in the global blueberry market include FutureCeuticals, Nestle S.A, Berrico, Kellogg company, Nutra Green Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Arctic bilberry, JF Natural, Bio-Botanica Inc., Michigan blueberry growers, Dole plc, Agrana Beteiligungs AG, Hortifrut, Blueberry LLC, Naturipe Berry Growers and Sensient Technologies.

RECENT HAPPENINGS IN THE GLOBAL MARKET

• In February 2024, Hall Hunter purchased a new Elifaab Berry Class 12 lane classifying machine together with two automatic punnet fillers from Elifab’s partner Mat Exakta.
• In February 2024, the Indian government reduced the import duty on raw and selected processed products of blueberries to 10% from 30%. This is implemented at the suggestion of the Department of Commerce after a joint agreement on a solution between the US and India.

MARKET SEGMENTATION

This research report on the global blueberry market has been segmented and sub-segmented based on product, application, end-user and region.

By Product

• Fresh
• Frozen
• Dried
• Juice Concentrate
• Puree

By Application:

• Direct-to-eat
• Blueberry Products
• Others

By End-User

• Food and beverages
• Bakery and confectionary
• Nutraceutical and Dietary Supplements
• Others

By Region

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East and Africa