Zimbabwe boosts berry exports amid rising global demand

Zimbabwe’s horticulture industry recorded US$38 million in berry export earnings last year, with Asian markets continuing to play a significant role in supporting trade growth. India offered the highest prices for Zimbabwean berries, as reported by The Herald, a partner of TV BRICS.

The expansion follows the signing of a blueberry export protocol during President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s visit to China in 2025. The agreement added momentum to Zimbabwe’s horticultural exports and complemented existing trade arrangements covering citrus fruits and avocados.

According to the national trade promotion body, berry exports generated US$37.3 million during the period. The organisation noted that the berries sub-sector achieved a compound annual growth rate of 29 per cent between 2021 and 2025, driven by increasing global consumption of healthy foods as well as continued investment in commercial agriculture.

Zimbabwe’s horticulture sector includes flowers, vegetables, berries, citrus fruits, nuts, avocados, spices, herbs, tea, and coffee. Blueberries remain the dominant product within the berries category, which also comprises strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, cranberries, and mulberries. Since 2018, blueberries have emerged as the country’s fastest-growing export crop, supported by precision farming techniques in frost-free areas.

The country’s five leading export destinations represented 70 per cent of total berry export earnings, underlining the growing international reach of Zimbabwe’s horticulture sector.