Zimbabwe’s January-September 2025 berry export returns grew by 34% annually from robust prices and increasing market access, per the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency.

The export value rose to US$10.4 million from the US$7.79 million of the corresponding first nine months of 2024. 

Bringing a manifold improvement to the returns were uptick export rates, which appreciated by 13% year-on-year (y-o-y).

The average export prices for all berries hit US$1.66 a kg versus US$1.46/kg in 2024’s mirror period.

Tied to this was upscale production, with blueberries espousing most improvement versus strawberries, mulberries, and cranberries.

This year’s performance culminates the tenfold production growth of Zim’s blueberries between 2018 and 2024. By 2024, the output had hit 8,000 tonnes, out of which 4,096 tonnes shipped overseas.

The burgeoning cultivation of the crop partially owes to constant demand in the European Union, the UK and Hong Kong.  

Free China Market 

Additionally, zero-tariff access into China starting September 2025 could spur future export growth for local blueberries.

This Far-East market commands frequent price surges especially around the Chinese New Year when demand ups. As recently as June through late August 2025, sample specialty blueberry retail rates within China topped US$2.25-$4.99 per 125 g from limited supplies. 

During this period, Zimbabwe was midway through its harvest, a process that runs from May through October.

Some of this harvest will end up in China at 0% duty, a privilege for an emerging import origin outside South America. Apart from Peru and Chile, most other origins normally pay a 15% blueberry tariff.

Beijing has also in 2025 extended zero-tariff access for select produce from 53 nations across Africa.

To exploit this free access and find other markets, Zimbabwe aims to make berry export a horticultural pillar. For one, the country’s Horticulture Development Council  forecasts 2025 blueberry production to increase by about 4,000 tonnes, y-o-y. The stats below expound on export gains that accrue to this production commitment. 

Zimbabwe Berry and Blueberry Export Statistics 

Zimbabwe’s is an emerging berry powerhouse, with total earnings from exports hitting US$10.4 million in the January-September 2025 period. Although cranberries, raspberries and mulberries all make contributions, blueberries remain synonymous with the country’s berry sector. Indeed, Zimbabwe’s blueberry exports ranked in the top 15 worldwide in 2022. In 2024, the exports of this specialty fruit surged by 67% year-on-year, per the Blueberries Consulting. Between the 2023-24 and 2024-25 marketing years, export volumes grew by 13.3%, from 3,616 tonnes to 4,096 tonnes. 

Fueling this phenomal appreciation is unstoppable annual production increase. Output rose from 8,000 tonnes in the 2023-24 season to 8,580 tonnes in the 2024-25 season. Hence, Zimbabwe’s Horticulture Development Council was bold enough to forecast 2025-26 production at 12,000 tonnes.

Meanwhile, the Horticulture Recovery and Growth Plan intends to transform the blueberry industry to a market worth of US$2 billion. Much of this vision pegs to export revenue from traditional and new markets. As of 2024, the Netherlands led export returns, per the table below interpreted from data by Blueberries Consulting:

Destination	Export Value
Netherlands	US$14.5 million [29% share]
Hong Kong	US$10.9 million [22%]
Germany	US$7.2 million [14%]

Which countries buy Zimbabwe’s blueberries most handsomely?

In 2024, Hong Kong had the highest import rate for Zimbabwe’s blueberries, at US$14 a kg while Singapore offered US$12/kg.