The Association of Producers and Exporters of blueberries (Proarándanos) made a call about the challenges that this industry faces at this time, with the aim of reaching a solution that does not endanger the sustainability of many companies that generate work for more than 250 thousand families in more than 10 regions of the Peru.
In a statement, he indicated that the objective is that the entire value chain involved in the agro-export of this fruit can know the reality of the situation.
“We need logistics companies, shipping companies and everyone else involved in the export of our fruit to be true strategic partners so that, together, we can overcome the problems that our industry is currently facing”he pointed.
He also recalled that the blueberry industry is not immune to the Peruvian and international crisis, and has been facing serious challenges, despite the fact that in the last 10 years we have seen a continuous increase in exports.
Similarly, he explained that the blueberry industry is facing a significant rise in maritime freight costs, with increases greater than 70% compared to pre-pandemic levels.
“This increase represents an additional US$3 to US$5 thousand per container, depending on the market. This significantly reduces the margin per hectare and, in some cases, leads to a loss at certain times of the year”he expressed.
He stated that the increase in freight rates affects not only the export of the fruit, but also the import of agro-inputs required by the operation. These costs cannot be transferred to international buyers, since the market does not allow the prices of the fruit we export to increase.
Also, he stated that there are higher shipping rates compared to other commodities under the same conditions and to the same markets, in addition to container shortages and closure of destination ports. He also accused carriers of providing too little flexibility regarding associated costs, such as cancellation fees.
Similarly, he noted that the collapsed national infrastructure is also generating a significant impact on our operations. He explained that in this 2022-2023 campaign, the main markets for Peruvian blueberries, such as Europe and the United Statesare going through difficult times, as a result of the recession and the war, which have had a strong impact on the consumption of fruits such as blueberries.
Finally, Proarandanos warned of the poor participation of the State in its promoting role and excessive regulation that affects the competitiveness of the sector.
