Entry of Polish imports set to boost competition and help feed burgeoning consumer demand for blueberries
Polish blueberries are set to enter the Vietnamese market for the first time after the Ministry of Trade granted official access to the fruit, according to the Vietnam Trade Office (VTO) in Poland.
Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE) officially informed the Polish Plant Protection and Seed Inspection Service that Polish blueberries were permitted for export to Vietnam on 16 September. The new protocol was confirmed after a delegation from MAE visited Poland to inspect blueberry orchards and packing facilities.
The VTO noted that blueberries are gaining popularity in Vietnam due to their distinctive flavour and nutritional benefits. However, limited supply and high transportation costs mean fresh blueberries are currently priced between VND1 and VND1.5m per kg (around US$40-60), making them unaffordable to the majority of consumers, it said. The entry of Polish blueberries is set to increase competition and expand supply options, making the fruit more accessible to consumers.
Under Vietnam’s plant quarantine regulations, all orchards and packhouses must be pre-registered.
Hai Nguyen, CEO of leading high-end fruit retailer, Klever Fruit, told Fruitnet he was cautiously optimistic about the market prospects for Polish blueberries.
“The main season for Polish blueberries is from June to August, so I don’t think they will compete with Southern Hemisphere supplying nations such as Peru whose season runs from November to March,” said Nguyen.
“We will apply for an import permit for the fruit next week and we’ll find out the details of the protocol then.”
Poland has seen ongoing growth in both blueberry acreage and production over the past seven years, and the industry continues to lay the foundations for future success.
Between 2020 and 2021, the country’s planted area expanded by 25 per cent. While this pace has slowed recently, growers are increasingly focusing on replacing older varieties, instead of establishing new plantations.
In 2024, the total planted area reached nearly 13,000ha – an increase of just 2.6 per cent compared to 2023 – while varietal renewal gained significant traction. The 2024 harvest matched that of 2023, totalling around 62,000 tonnes.
According to Agronometrics, exports in 2024 exceeded the previous year’s by 17 per cent, reaching nearly 26,000 tonnes.
