The deal, signed during President Mnangagwa’s state visit to Beijing, could transform Zimbabwe’s horticultural sector as production is projected to reach 12,000 tonnes by 2025
Zimbabwe’s blueberry industry can now start exporting its fruit to China, following a state visit to Beijing.
Reports from Harare have said the deal was concluded last week, during a visit by president Emmerson Mnangagwa, when the necessary protocols were signed.
The deal is seen as a major opportunity for local growers to expand into one of the world’s fastest-growing blueberry markets, with a population of 1.4bn.
Mnangagwa, who arrived in China this week, attended commemorations of the country’s victory in the Second World War on Wednesday before holding bilateral talks with president Xi Jinping.
The Horticultural Development Council (HDC) of Zimbabwe welcomed the agreement, noting that it could be transformative for the sector.
“Zimbabwe is projected to produce 12,000 tonnes of blueberries in 2025, up from 8,000 tonnes in 2024,” the HDC said.
”The scale of exports to China will be guided by the new protocol’s sanitary and phytosanitary requirements and the related compliance costs.”
Zimbabwe could become Africa’s largest blueberry exporter if growers are supported with policies that encourage fresh investment, it noted.
The blueberry protocol builds on a similar agreement reached in 2024 for Zimbabwean avocados, underscoring horticulture’s central role in the government’s economic growth agenda.
The Horticulture Recovery and Growth Plan targets a US$2bn industry.
Zimbabwe’s entry into the market is expected to introduce a distinctive variety known for its taste and texture. According to official statistics, Zimbabwe’s blueberry exports rose 13.3 per cent in the 2024/25 season, from 3,616 tonnes to 4,096 tonnes.
The country harvests its blueberries during the early part of the Southern African season and therefore has marketing opportunities in Europe, the UK and the Far East before the powerhouses – Peru and South Africa – enter their peak seasons.
Indeed, only Namibia can deliver fruit earlier into the market.
However, by adapting production techniques, growers in the northern parts of South Africa are also now entering the market much earlier. Apart from exports, South Africa’s internal market is also rapidly growing. Observers say the industries in all three countries therefore have great potential for growth.
