Thailand
Prices
Prices of Thai pineapples have been on a rising trend from the end of April due to the decrease of available products despite the start of the season. This is considered to be due to the combined effects of ongoing drought and COVID-19.
Production
Due to the drought in Thailand, fresh pineapples production decreased by approximately 30-40% from 5,000 metric tons to about 3,000 metric tons.
Specifically, during the harvest season in 2020, which is from April to July, the Chonburi region in Thailand suffered drought issues from having much less quantity of rainfall than the yearly average.
The situation in Thailand, one of the world’s biggest exporters of pineapples and canned pineapples, continues to be on the decline. Currently, factories are working at only about 30% capacity, even though the products are still in season. 260K tons of pineapples were harvested during the first quarter of 2020 compared to 380K tons during the same period in 2019, and 512K tons in 2018, respectively. Additionally, this year, factories will be finishing the summer season about two months early in June. Amplified by drought, the situation is expected to continue with a low possibility of recovery for the winter crop starting in October.
Exports
Exports of Thai pineapples have risen steeply between 2016 and 2017 (369% increase) and have almost doubled since then, on a consistent rising streak.
Recent Trends
Thailand has recently been exempted from the import duty of canned and processed fruits from 9 countries in ASEAN, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, and Hong Kong due to FTA.
However, there is expected to be a shortage in pineapples until next year. Supplies from Indonesia, the Philippines, and Kenya are expected to have trouble covering the deficit and are expected to be high in demand.
Indonesia
Prices
Due to the lack of availability in major producer Thailand and a decrease in processing capability from COVID-19, there has been a general increase in prices.
Exports
Exports of Indonesian pineapples saw a great increase during 2016-2017 (397%) and have been steadily increasing. This season, Indonesia reported an initial release of 12 tons of fresh pineapple from Pemalang Regency, Central Java to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the country’s biggest export region, with an export value recorded at IDR 176 million (USD 12,497.
Recent Trends
Amid COVID-19, the demand for pineapple in the East Java province was considerably high compared to other tropical fruits in the province. Local farmers of a pineapple variety called Banasari (a highly productive variety that can yield up to three times annually) claimed that in the span of April to May 2020, the demand for this variety reached approximately 25 MT from local consumers around East Java. These farmers also stated that they have been able to keep the price of this commodity relatively stable at IDR 3000 (USD 0.21) / piece.
Vietnam
Prices
In April, prices have significantly decreased due to COVID-19 in the Hau Giang province, with the price of type 1 pineapple decreasing from VND 5,000 (USD 0.22) / per fruit to VND 3,000 (USD 0.13) / per fruit. Type 2 pineapples have decreased to VND 1,500 VND (USD 0.06) and type 3 to VND 700 (USD 0.03). However, prices are expected to stabilize as China regains its pineapple demand.
Production
Production for pineapples has increased over time, with Vietnam experiencing a jump in production from 2017-2018 or 617,944 MT to 654,801 MT.
Philippines
Production
Production for pineapples in the Philippines has been gradually increasing, which has recorded 2.73 million MT in 2018, an approximate increase of 60K MT from the previous year with 2.67 million MT.
Exports
The Philippines has seen immense growth in exported value in fresh/dried pineapples in China during the period of 2018-2019, of 166%. This has been due to the popularity of the MD2 variety, its high Brix levels, as well as the fact that the Philippines can supply pineapples all-year-round.
Recent Trends
Philippines has been greatly affected by the onset of COVID-19, as farmers are refusing to grow pineapples during the lockdown as well as due to the decreased demand. Additionally, pineapple factory closures have made it impossible for suppliers to export pineapples overseas, and this issue is expected to persist until the end of 2020.
