Pineapple Global Supply: Decrease Volume Overview

According to a recent report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, global pineapple exports in 2022 are estimated to have decreased by 1.5% YoY to below 3.2 million mt. Although most of the main pineapple suppliers increased their export volume, Costa Rican exports contracted by 2% YoY to below 2.2 million. The decreased export volume from Costa Rica was enough to drive down global exports in 2022. As a result, global pineapple is estimated to have fallen by 1% to 2.9 million mt.

Pineapple exports from the Philippines, the second largest global pineapple supplier, are estimated to have increased by 4% YoY to 560 thousand mt, representing a recovery from a 10% decline registered in 2021. The main factor for Philippine exports to grow is the popularity of MD2 pineapples in the Chinese market. China is typically the main export market for Philippine pineapples, accounting for over 40% of total exports. Over the last few years, the Philippines have adopted the MD2 technology, which is a cultivar known for its long shelf life, year-round availability, and high cost-performance ratio. As a result, exports of Philippine pineapples witnessed an 8% YoY increase during the first eight months of 2022.

On the other hand, imports into China, the world’s third-largest pineapple importer, are expected to have reduced by 1.7% to 210 thousand mt. According to the report, pineapples were still the second most exported tropical fruit item in terms of volume in 2022, only behind bananas.

Source: ITC, Tridge

Cold weather conditions, high energy costs, and a global container shortage negatively affected Costa Rica's production and exports in 2022. Consequently, the total export volume from Costa Rica is estimated to have dropped by 2% and did not reach 2.2 million mt. The Central American country sends its pineapples mainly to the United States and Europan Union. The US represents about 50% of Costa Rica’s export share, while the EU accounts for about 38% of the share.

Ecuador’s pineapple exports in 2022 are estimated to have increased by 9.4% to a total volume of 110 thousand mt. Although Ecuador's pineapple export volume is minimum compared to Costa Rica's volume, the country is the third largest pineapple exporter in the world, behind the Philippines as a significant South American pineapple producer and supplier.

Source: ITC, Tridge

The Netherlands and the US, which are not net pineapple producers or exporters, also have an important trade activity in the pineapple trade. The Netherlands had a 14% decrease in its pineapple export volume to 169 thousand mt. As an essential re-export hub, the declining volume attests to a lesser pineapple supply in 2022. On the other hand, the US slightly increased 6% YoY in their export pineapple volume, reaching 118 thousand mt.

Consequently, from Costa Rica’s volume contraction, global pineapple imports are estimated to have decreased by 1% YoY to 2.9 million mt in 2022. Imports into China, the third-largest global pineapple importer, are expected to have reduced by 1.7% YoY to 210 thousand mt. The country’s demand for imported pineapples was affected by a stable domestic supply of high-quality pineapples owing to favorable weather conditions in key production regions. Further growth in imports is believed to have been constrained by economic conditions and logistical difficulties.