Singapore Fresh Fruit Market Update: Lemons Firm, Small Blueberries Tighten and Valencia Supply Builds
Singapore’s fresh fruit market is showing a noticeably mixed picture this week. While some categories remain well supplied and competitively priced, others are beginning to tighten as availability becomes more selective by origin, size and specification.
For Week 37 of 2026, some of the most important developments are firmer lemon prices, limited availability of smaller blueberries, growing interest in selected Fuji apple sizes and heavy supplies of South African Valencia oranges.
Lemon Prices Find Firmer Ground
After several weeks of changing citrus conditions, lemon prices have stabilised at firmer levels, with South African lemons currently trading around S$30 and above per carton, depending on count and specification.
The key driver appears to be tighter supply.
South African lemon quotations this week are around S$31.00 for several common counts, including 88pc, 100pc and 113pc.
For buyers who have been accustomed to softer lemon pricing earlier in the season, the current market suggests that the opportunity to buy aggressively at lower levels has reduced.
Unless supply improves, lemon pricing is likely to remain relatively supported in the short term.
Smaller Blueberries Are Becoming Harder to Find
The blueberry market is particularly interesting this week because the issue is not simply overall supply—it is size availability.
There is currently a shortage of smaller blueberries, especially around 14mm, and several wholesalers in Singapore have been actively looking for fruit in this size range.
This contrasts with the larger end of the market, where 22mm Super Jumbo blueberries remain available.
South African 22mm Super Jumbo blueberries actually softened slightly week on week, showing that a shortage in one size does not necessarily mean the entire blueberry category is tight.
For buyers, this is an important distinction.
Blueberry pricing is increasingly size-specific. Buyers requiring smaller berries for particular retail packs or programmes may face more difficulty sourcing suitable fruit than buyers who can accept larger calibres.
Fuji Apple 88pc Attracting Buying Interest
Another product attracting attention is China Fuji apple in 88-count sizing.
Several wholesalers are currently looking for Fuji 88pc fruit.
This size can fit mainstream retail programmes well, and the pattern of enquiry suggests there may be stronger downstream interest in this specification.
China Fuji apples are already a familiar product across Singapore supermarkets, making count and sizing particularly important when retailers build promotional or regular apple programmes.
There is no confirmed supermarket order behind the current enquiries, but Fuji 88pc is a size worth monitoring closely over the coming week.
When multiple buyers begin searching for the same specification at the same time, availability can tighten quickly even when the broader apple category remains adequately supplied.
Australian Strawberry Prices Expected to Rise
Australian strawberries remain relatively stable this week, with the current wholesale quotation maintained at around S$40.00 per carton for 250g x 15 packs.
However, this stability may be temporary.
Market indications point to an Australian strawberry price increase next week.
For retailers, foodservice operators and fruit sellers running strawberry programmes, the present market may therefore offer a short window before replacement costs move higher.
Singapore retail strawberry prices continue to vary considerably depending on retailer, promotion, quality and positioning, so competitive buying remains important.
South African Valencia Oranges Face Heavy Supply
The situation is very different for South African Valencia oranges.
Supply is currently excessive, with several Valencia and Delta Seedless Valencia offers appearing in the market.
Week 37 wholesale quotations for selected 72-count South African Valencia oranges are around S$21–S$22 per carton.
Heavy availability typically creates a more competitive selling environment, particularly when several importers or wholesalers are carrying similar fruit.
For buyers, this can create opportunities.
For sellers, however, it means stock rotation and pricing discipline become increasingly important. Excess supply can put continuing downward pressure on market prices if fruit accumulates faster than demand absorbs it.
U.S. Grapes Mostly Edge Lower
U.S. grape pricing is generally stable to slightly softer.
Selected Autumn Crisp and Green Emerald lines eased week on week, although not every variety followed the same direction. Airchief Applause, for example, moved slightly higher.
A new U.S. Sweet Globe quotation also appeared this week.
The grape market therefore remains highly dependent on variety, brand and specification rather than moving uniformly in one direction.
For buyers comparing offers, looking beyond the headline carton price remains important. Pack weight, berry size, condition, brand and variety can materially affect the real value of a quotation.
Rockmelon Prices Soften
Australian rockmelon offers were another softer area this week.
Several comparable Rombola Black rockmelon specifications declined by approximately 4% week on week, providing buyers with somewhat better purchasing levels.
China Hami melon was more mixed, with selected 4pc fruit increasing while 5pc quotations remained unchanged.
This reinforces the broader theme of the current market: even within the same fruit category, price movements can differ significantly according to count and specification.
What Buyers Should Watch Next
The Singapore fresh fruit market entering the next trading week is less about a single overall price direction and more about identifying where specific supply imbalances are developing.
The key products to monitor are:
Lemons: supply remains limited and prices have firmed around S$30 and above.
Blueberries: 14mm and other smaller sizes are difficult to source despite availability of larger fruit.
Fuji apples: 88pc is attracting wholesaler interest and could tighten if buying demand continues.
Australian strawberries: current prices are stable, but an increase is expected next week.
South African Valencia oranges: excessive supply is creating a competitive market and potential buying opportunities.
For fresh produce buyers, the important lesson this week is that size, specification and timing matter as much as the fruit itself.
A category may appear well supplied overall while the particular size required by supermarkets, fruit retailers or foodservice customers becomes scarce.
At 3YY Fresh, we monitor wholesale movements, incoming supply and Singapore retail market conditions to help our customers make better-informed fruit purchasing decisions.
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