Chinese berry exports reach US$24.4 million in April
Exports of fresh blueberries from China continue to increase, with Southeast Asia accounting for a large share of shipments. According to data from China’s General Administration of Customs, exports of fresh blueberries and cranberries reached US$24.4 million in April. During the first quarter of 2026, exports totaled US$38.8 million, compared with US$50.8 million during all of 2025 and US$23.1 million in 2024.
Higher production in Yunnan Province, China’s main blueberry-growing region, has supported both domestic consumption and export availability. According to Dezan Shira & Associates, Yunnan more than doubled its blueberry cultivation area and production between 2020 and 2025.
Exports to Southeast Asia have been supported by trade facilitation measures under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and by the China-Laos Railway. The railway has reduced transport times and helped maintain fruit quality during shipment. Yunnan is located at the northern end of the transport network.
According to Quinn Lu, senior manager at Dezan Shira, Chinese blueberries can reach Kuala Lumpur by road or sea within days and are sold at around US$7 per kilogram. Refrigerated transport has also supported quality retention.
“Chinese blueberries offer an unmatched combination of freshness, year-round availability and accessible pricing,” Lu said.
“These improvements allow exporters to consistently deliver berries to Southeast Asia that are visually appealing, uniform in size and durable enough to survive transit with their quality intact.”
China became the world’s largest blueberry producer in 2020. Between 2020 and 2025, the country’s cultivation area expanded from approximately 66,400 hectares to more than 105,000 hectares, while production increased to 810,000 tons, according to a report published by Xinhua in April. The report attributed the expansion to developments in agricultural technology and noted that increased production has contributed to lower prices.
Cranberry exports remain limited, with production in Heilongjiang Province primarily serving the domestic market.
Customs data show that in April, exports of blueberries and cranberries totaled US$3.7 million to Malaysia, US$3.9 million to Singapore, and US$2.6 million to Thailand. Hong Kong and Russia were the largest individual destinations, each importing more than US$4 million worth.
Demand has increased in Southeast Asia, where climatic conditions are generally not suitable for large-scale blueberry production due to the crop’s winter chilling requirements. Consumers in Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam reported increased availability of Chinese blueberries in retail outlets.
In Singapore, consumers noted that Chinese blueberries are priced 30 to 50 per cent below fruit from Australia and Japan. Market participants also indicated that Chinese oranges and grapes have helped build familiarity with Chinese fruit among consumers in the region.
Source: South China Morning Post
