Pears, apples, cherries, and blueberries: The landscape of Argentine exports to the United States

As “counter-seasonal” exporters, Argentine shipments depend on the production levels already present in the U.S. market upon arrival. “In general, market behavior is quite stable,” notes Gregori. However, recent years have seen weather events that have impacted export volumes.

This year, there is concern regarding the El Niño phenomenon in the Southern Hemisphere, with “periods of heavy rain and challenging winds” that could affect both the quality and quantity of the harvest.

Unlike in Europe—where a new agreement with Mercosur has led to lower tariffs—exports to the United States are subject to a 10% tariff on the value of the fruit. According to Gregori, “this has a significant impact on the returns received by the producer.”

In the case of pears and apples, the Argentine production region is characterized by low rainfall, which facilitates effective biological pest control and minimizes the need for pesticides. “We are essentially in line with the requirements of every market worldwide,” he asserts. Furthermore, the country adheres to rigorous protocols established with China, the United States, and Mexico—requirements that, according to Gregori, are met without difficulty.

Datamar container throughput data provide further insight into the sector’s performance: in the first eight months of the year, Argentina exported 4,729 TEUs of pears and 578 TEUs of apples. The chart below shows how shipments evolved over the period:

Pear and Apple Exports | Argentina | Jan 2024 – Aug 2026 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner – explore our trade data

The greatest challenge lies elsewhere: “Today, Argentina is an expensive country.” Gregori explains that regional economies are heavily burdened by the “country cost” (the additional costs of doing business in Argentina). He believes that once the macroeconomic issues are addressed, microeconomic challenges will emerge as “the next hurdle in this new phase.”

Argentina exports approximately 50 million kilograms of pears and apples, and around 3 million kilograms of cherries, to the United States. In the case of blueberries, by contrast, the volume is only around one million kilos, following a loss of market share to Peru. That country has expanded its production, benefiting from lower costs and a geographical location that reduces freight charges.

Faced with this pressure, the blueberry sector is transitioning toward new varieties. “Today, to compete, you have to compete on quality and flavor,” says Gregori. “Argentina already has the flavor; it will achieve the necessary quality by incorporating these new varieties.”

For cherries, the priority is to produce fruit with a good shelf life, attractive presentation, flavor, and—above all—size, which is “essential” for gaining access to the most demanding markets. In the pear and apple sectors, there is competition from other Southern Hemisphere countries, though, according to the president of COPEXEU, “it is not as significant a problem as it is for blueberries.”

Gregori emphasizes the importance of the organization being able to voice its position: “In this world, the producer is the one who must be looked after.” With this in mind, he notes that producers will receive from the market “whatever the market is able to pay.”

Source: Smart Cherry World

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