Global Pineapple Exports Down 2.2% in 2022

According to the Major Tropical Fruits Market Review 2022 report recently released by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, global pineapple exports dropped by 2.2% in 2022 on account of cold weather in major producing countries. However, demand from key markets such as the European Union and United States remained strong.

Exports

Owing to a reduced supply from Costa Rica, global pineapple exports declined by 2.2% to 3.1 million metric tons in 2022. Costa Rica is the world’s largest pineapple exporter, with a market share of nearly 70%. Unfavorable weather conditions, high energy prices and container shortages all had negative impacts on Costa Rican pineapple production and exports in 2022. Overall, the country’s exports for the year contracted by 4.7% or 100,000 metric tons to below 2 million metric tons. This represents a stark contrast to the growth witnessed in 2021 and is the first time that the country’s exports have fallen below 2 million metric tons since 2015.

The Philippines is the world’s second-largest pineapple exporter. In 2022, the country’s pineapple exports experienced a noteworthy 5.6% increase to reach 580,000 metric tons. This marks a substantial recovery from the 7% decline observed in 2021, which was partially attributable to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as typhoons. Trade statistics for 2022 revealed 16% year-on-year growth in pineapple shipments from the Philippines to China, which was the main destination for Philippine pineapples and accounted for 43% of the total export volume. This growth was ascribed to logistical challenges affecting exports from Costa Rica and other South American suppliers. By contrast, shipments from the Philippines were relatively unhindered. In addition, MD2, which is the main pineapple variety grown in the Philippines and features a long shelf life and year-round availability, presented a more cost-effective choice for importers. Other prominent markets for Philippine pineapples in 2022 included Japan and Korea, with shares of approximately 30% and 13%, respectively.

Among other pineapple exporters, Ecuador, a key player in South America, saw a slight increase of 1% in its pineapple exports in 2022, reaching a total of 100,000 metric tons. Meanwhile, Mexico’s pineapple exports declined significantly by 14.7% to 49,000 metric tons. In Africa, pineapple exports from Ivory Coast rose by 4.8% to 32,000 metric tons, while Ghana’s exports slumped by 36.7% to only 1,600 metric tons.

Imports

The limited supply from Costa Rica led global pineapple imports to decline to 2.9 million metric tons in 2022, down by 1% compared to 2021. The United States and European Union remained the primary import markets. The United States imported 1.1 million metric tons, accounting for 39% of the global total, while the European Union received 770,000 metric tons, constituting 26% of the total. According to the report, a strong U.S. dollar and the recovery of the hospitality sector drove demand for pineapples in the United States, resulting in a 3.9% increase in imports in 2022.

As the world’s third-largest pineapple importer, China’s imports decreased by 3.3% to 208,000 metric tons in 2022. This decline was primarily attributable to the economic downturn and logistical disruptions caused by COVID-19 control measures. Another contributing factor was the favorable weather conditions in China’s own pineapple-producing regions, which diminished the need for imports. However, industry experts noted that prolonged control measures, coupled with rising production and transportation costs, exerted downward pressure on prices for both imported and domestically grown pineapples.

Image: Pixabay

This article was translated from Chinese. Read the original article.