By a Correspondent
Zimbabwe’s fast-growing blueberry industry has secured a major foothold in the lucrative Chinese market following the export of the country’s first commercial consignment of fresh blueberries to China.
The breakthrough is expected to open a new export channel for Zimbabwean horticultural producers, potentially generating increased foreign currency earnings while creating opportunities across the agricultural value chain.
The milestone was welcomed by the Horticultural Development Council (HDC), which said the first shipment marked the beginning of what could become a regular export programme as local production expands.
The initial consignment comprised three trial pallets transported by air, while exporters are now testing sea freight shipments using cold sterilisation to assess the most efficient supply routes and treatment protocols under the agreement governing access to the Chinese market.
The opening of the Chinese market comes as demand for high-quality fresh fruit continues to grow in the Asian country, providing Zimbabwean blueberry producers with access to one of the world’s largest consumer markets.
The HDC said the new market could deliver benefits well beyond farmers, with increased exports expected to generate foreign currency and create business opportunities for packhouses, logistics companies, transporters and freight operators.
However, the industry faces the challenge of meeting China’s stringent import and plant-health requirements.
The HDC said gaining access to the market had taken years of work involving the government, growers, exporters and plant-health authorities, describing the breakthrough as evidence that Zimbabwe can compete in some of the world’s most demanding fresh-produce markets.
Zimbabwe has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing blueberry producers, benefiting from climatic conditions that allow the production of berries with strong flavour, texture and quality.
The country’s early production window also gives growers a potential competitive advantage by allowing them to supply international markets before some major producing countries come into peak production.
Zimbabwean blueberries are already exported to markets in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The country is expected to export about 12 000 tonnes of blueberries in 2026 from approximately 850 hectares, up from around 9 500 tonnes produced from about 650 hectares in 2025.
The opening of China therefore comes at a time when the local industry is rapidly expanding and seeking new destinations to absorb rising production.
Zimbabwe is Africa’s third-largest blueberry producer after Morocco and South Africa, according to industry data.
The HDC said the success of the Chinese export drive would depend on continued investment in the sector, calling for policies that support long-term growth and attract fresh capital.
It identified affordable long-term financing, efficient export logistics, reliable cold-chain infrastructure and continued investment in plant-health systems as key requirements for expanding production and maintaining Zimbabwe’s competitiveness in international markets.
The first shipments to China are therefore being viewed not only as a commercial breakthrough but also as a test of Zimbabwe’s ability to build a reliable supply chain capable of serving a demanding global market.
As the country seeks to diversify its exports and increase agricultural earnings, the Chinese market could provide a significant new growth opportunity for Zimbabwe’s emerging blueberry industry.
