Europe Blueberry Market - Growth, Trends, and Forecasts (2023 - 2028)

Europe Blueberry Market - Growth, Trends, and Forecasts (2023 - 2028)

The European blueberry market is expected to register a CAGR of 2.8% over the forecast period.

The tabletop has become a widely used concept in Europe in greenhouses and can be adapted for outdoor use with the use of a high tunnel. In order to increase the marketable products in the region to serve consumer demands, farmers have resorted to polytunnels. These flexible greenhouses, with their curved metal girders and polythene covers, can be seen across large areas of the British countryside. This method increases the probability of good-quality blueberries and extends the growing season from four to six weeks to a much wider time frame of early spring to autumn. Therefore, the shift to high-technology methods has led to an increase in the production of blueberries in the country.

The major producers of blueberries in Europe include Spain, Poland, Germany, Portugal, the Netherlands, and France. Germany, United Kingdom, Spain, the Netherlands, France, and Austria are some of the major importers of blueberries in Europe. The most popular blueberry varieties are Bluecrop, Chandler, Bluegold, Liberty, Toro, Spartan, Patriot, and Aurora, which have been cultivated for many years. Among the new breeding creations, this group includes such varieties as Megasblue, Titanium, Cargo, Calypso, Valor, and Last Call in the European region.

In December 2021, blueberry cultivation was feasible in agroforestry systems from an existing system in South Bavaria, Germany, where blueberry cultivation, in combination with value wood production, provided good fruit yields.

The trade and production of blueberries are expanding globally as product development boosts their profile in form and function. The consumption of blueberries, hailed for their flavor, versatility, and health benefits, has expanded beyond fresh, ranging from pureed to powdered forms. Blueberries are also being used as ingredients and additives in foods and beverages. The new uses and forms of blueberries, combined with increasing fresh consumption, are expected to increase production worldwide.

The British blueberry season is flourishing in the country due to the rapid growth of the blueberry bush plantations across Europe to meet the increased demand for homegrown fruit among the people. This, in turn, has led to increased overall berry revenue in the country, which is expected to boost the growth of the market studied. Germany has one of the largest blueberry-growing regions named the North German Plain. Lower Saxony is the center of German blueberry cultivation, with about 2000 hectares under cultivation and around 70% of production in the country, which is expected to boost the demand for berries in the coming years.

The FAO database reported an increase in blueberry production in Europe owing to the rising preference among consumers for fruit salads and as ingredients in other products, including fresh fruits, which are used to decorate bakery products. The production of blueberries increased considerably from 53,380 metric ton in 2019 to 48,520 metric ton in 2020 in Spain and from 14,850 metric ton in 2019 to 11,300 metric ton in 2020 in Germany.

The International Blueberry Organization (IBO) stated that Poland’s blueberry sector is made up of a massive number of small growers, who it is estimated have an average volume of only 25-35 metric ton. However, around 60% of the country’s production is controlled by 5% of the growers, which will further diversify blueberry production in the market.

According to the International Blueberry Organization (IBO), the per capita consumption of blueberries in the United Kingdom market was 0.67 kg per person per year in 2018, whereas the per capita consumption slightly peaked at 0.7 kg per person per year in 2019 and subsequently fell to 0.65 kg in 2020 due to pertinent supply gap in the blueberry availability in the retail shelves. In 2019, United Kingdom imported 56,524 metric ton of blueberries.

Together with the national production, the average annual consumption reached an estimated 0.8 kg per capita in 2021. As stated by the prominent retail outlets in the country, such as Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrison, and Co-op, which gained nearly a 79% share in blueberry retail sales in 2019, the average blueberry sales at the beginning of 2020 went down by 40%. This burgeoning trend continued until the first quarter of the year, thereby affecting blueberry sales to a greater extent. Blueberry production in the country peaked at 2,700 metric ton in 2020, while the rest was met only through imports. The increasing demand for blueberries is further expected to enhance their consumption in the country.

• The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
• 3 months of analyst support