Egypt Opens Its Market to Peruvian Blueberries

Egypt has opened its market to fresh Peruvian blueberries, marking its 76th international market for the fruit. This development was approved after more than a year of technical negotiations between Peru's SENASA, the National Agrarian Health Service, and Egypt's authorities. The phytosanitary access permits Peruvian blueberries to enter Egypt for the first time, adding another destination to Peru's long list of buyers.

The move comes at a strategic time for Peru, which is the world's largest exporter of fresh blueberries, having held that position since around 2019. In 2025, Peru's exports reached a record US$2.457 billion, an 8.2% increase from the previous year. The United States remains Peru's largest customer, accounting for more than half of the country's blueberry exports each season. However, recent US tariffs have made this reliance risky, prompting Peru to seek alternative markets.

Egypt's inclusion in the market is particularly valuable for Peru as the country harvests its blueberries when the Northern Hemisphere cannot, filling supermarket shelves during a global supply gap. With Egypt now added, fresh blueberry from Peru reaches a total of 76 international markets. The sector is actively seeking new destinations to spread its risk, as concentrating on a few large buyers can be a strategic weakness.

ProArandanos, the group representing Peru's blueberry producers and exporters, notes that extra markets mean steadier and more balanced demand over time, allowing growers to plan new plantings with greater confidence. However, shipping logistics and market promotion remain challenges, and the industry treats each new market opening as a starting point, not a finish line.

The first commercial shipments to Egypt are expected to start in the coming harvest season, with exporters now able to plan routes and volumes. Meanwhile, Peru continues to defend its established lead in the United States, Europe, and China, while also actively pursuing other new markets during 2026. Egypt's opening of its market to Peruvian blueberries is seen as a modest but genuinely significant win for the sector, showcasing a world-leading exporter refusing to stand still.