Zimbabwe Secures Blueberry Export Access to China

Zimbabwe has secured a historic breakthrough allowing the export of its blueberries to China following the signing of a new bilateral protocol during President Emmerson Mnangagwa's visit to Beijing. The agreement opens access to one of the world's fastest-growing blueberry markets, where demand has surged from 665 tonnes in 2005 to nearly 39,000 tonnes in 2024, primarily supplied by Peru and Chile. Zimbabwe's blueberry production is projected to increase from 8,000 tonnes in 2024 to 12,000 tonnes in 2025, with exports to China contingent upon meeting strict sanitary and phytosanitary standards set by the new protocol. Industry leaders, including the Horticultural Development Council's CEO Linda Nielsen, emphasize the need for supportive policies to boost investment, lower compliance costs, and enhance production capacity, aiming to position Zimbabwe as Africa's largest blueberry exporter. Despite the opportunity, challenges such as high interest rates, limited long-term financing, and restrictive export earnings rules pose obstacles to the sector’s growth. This milestone builds on previous successes like the 2024 avocado export agreement and aligns with Zimbabwe's broader horticulture growth plan targeting a US$2 billion industry.