The demand for pineapples has increased after the summer vaction in the Northern Hemisphere, but supply has not caught up yet. Hotter weather in key growing countries of South America, that affected flowering means volumes are not enough to meet the demand. This is expected to improve from Octbober. Growers in Costa Rica note the growing demand, especially in Europe, but they are not able to deliver more than the usual volumes. Panama has also had to adapt to the warmer weather to keep volumes at a reasonable rate. Côte d'Ivoire's adverse weather, with very little rainfall, has impacted pineapple growing. This has led to a second season of lower volumes and smaller sized pineapples. This year, demand for Ivorian pineapples has been strong from European markets, notably the Netherlands, Spain and Italy.
The Netherlands, as a major transhipment hub to the rest of Europe, has seen a significant shortage of pineapples on the market, leading to high demand and prices. Europe and the Middle East have been asking the Dutch if they can supply pineapples. In Italy there's high prices with even higher demand. The extreme weather conditions are affecting pineapple production in Central America, leading to less exports with the impact felt in Italy. In Germany there's a considerable price difference between shipped and airfreight pineapples. Demand is lower in summer and expected to increase in Germany. France has an under-supply that led to a sharp rise in prices. There are a lot of boat delays and few goods due to poor flowering. In Spain the demand for ready-to-eat pineapple increased compared to green pineapple.
South Africa currently has poor demand for pineapples that is expected to increase from October as warmer weather sets in. Some farmers export baby pineapples by airfreight. One of North America's main pineapple suppliers, namely Mexico, has seen the growing areas of Veracruz and Tabasco in Mexico with an absence of rain in early 2024 and extremely high summer temperatures that is impacting volume. Projected volumes are said to be 35 percent lower this year compared to the 2023. Demand is sluggish, mainly due to recent stronger pricing.
Costa Rica: Stable volumes coming in last quarter of 2024
After several months of lower volumes due to hotter and drier weather that caused less flowering, the pineapples are growing again. A grower and exporter notes the high demand in especially Europe: "Pineapple growing is seen to be stable for the remainder of this last quarter of 2024. The market is pushing for more fruit, however, Costa Rican pineapple producers and exporters do not have enough available. Let's remember that prices remain similar throughout the year, so seasonal changes could only benefit intermediaries."
Panama: Rain impacting volumes
Growers in Panama have had to adapt their growing practices to combat climate change, with hotter and drier weather playing a big role. A new grower and exporter noted: "Climate change has had a moderate impact on Panama's pineapple production. Although some effects have been observed, mainly on pineapple sizes and calibres, the relatively small scale of producers in Panama has allowed for greater control over such consequences."
Another grower and exporter notes: "We are working only with Europe and there is a trend of high demand from October onwards. Our limitation right now in Panama is the excess of rain. That affects the crop directly through the fungus attacks."
Côte d'Ivoire: Adverse weather impact pineapple growing
Adverse weather conditions this year in Côte d'Ivoire have marked the pineapple season, reducing the share of large sizes. A grower says, "Over the last two years, weather conditions have not been good, mainly due to the lack of rainfall. Large M6 and M7 sizes are a bit rare. On the other hand, the phytosanitary situation is under control and we're managing to produce good-quality organic pineapples, with a yield exceeding 1,500 kg per hectare. On the whole, everything's going well, although we've seen better seasons."
This year, demand for Ivorian pineapples has been strong from European markets, notably the Netherlands, Spain and Italy, according to the same source. Prices are set to rise next season, as the grower explains: "Production and material costs are rising, while yields are down due to smaller sizes. In addition, Global Gap Bio certification is switching to the next version, making it difficult to maintain prices. However, we will maintain the same prices until the end of the year."
Netherlands: Good pineapple season, but too low volumes
In recent months, there has been a significant shortage of pineapples on the market, leading to high demand. "We are being approached from across Europe and the Middle East asking if we can supply pineapples," says a Dutch importer. He expects supply to return to normal levels by mid-October. "The effects of natural flowering have been substantial, and this situation has persisted for the past month or two. As a result, prices are high, with day trading prices reaching 12 to 16 euros. However, it's uncertain how many people actually benefit from these prices. With 30-40% less supply, it's already challenging to meet fixed program requirements. I also anticipate that prices will remain strong next year, as the increasing demand from the juice industry in Costa Rica will prevent the European market from being oversaturated. Previously, we were pleased with prices of 10 euros, but that has now become the norm. Overall, it's a good pineapple season, but with insufficient available volumes."
Italy: High prices with even higher demand
Extreme weather conditions are affecting pineapple production in Central America. The result is low availability and lower quality than expected. A wholesaler in a market in northern Italy says the situation is very serious and has been going on for at least two months. And there is no sign of it improving in the short term. Few products are arriving by ship and at high prices. And very often customers are complaining because the pineapples are not holding up. Some import by air, but at prohibitive cost. A negative aspect of this situation is that customers stop asking for pineapples and become dissatisfied with the product.
In terms of price, wholesalers would pay up to €18-20 per carton, but the problem is that it is almost impossible to maintain consistent quality at the moment due to the constant bad weather in the production areas. For airfreight, the price has even reached €40 per carton: these pineapples have the advantage of a longer shelf life.
According to the manager of a well-known multinational, the interest in plant-ripened pineapples is growing in Italy. The variety is still MD2, but harvested at a slightly more advanced stage of ripeness. In addition, there is currently a shortage of medium to large sizes (6 or 7). However, prices are satisfactory.
According to data from GfK Consumer Panel Services, pineapples are bought by 29.5% of Italian households (in the last year ending July 2024), a decrease of almost eight percentage points compared to the past. These declining trends are partially offset by the average expenditure per purchase, which remains almost constant at around €2 for each of the approximately 3.5 times a year that fresh pineapples are purchased.
Germany: Considerable difference between shipped and airfreight pineapples
Pineapple is a perennial favourite and is always in demand, regardless of the season. In summer, demand is slightly lower, says a fruit wholesaler. We currently offer both shipments from Costa Rica and air freight from Panama. However, pineapple by air is more of an exception in our portfolio.' The price difference is considerable, says the wholesaler. Shipping goods are currently priced at 16 euros per 7-piece carton, while flying goods are priced at up to 40 euros per 6-piece carton. Meanwhile, the quantities on offer are sufficient to cover wholesale demand, he adds.
France: Under-supply led to a sharp rise in prices
The pineapple market is complicated for the past three weeks. There are a lot of boat delays and few goods due to poor flowering. As a result, prices have rocketed to levels between 12 and 15 euros per parcel. Under-supply led to a sharp rise in prices, unfortunately attracting products of uncertain quality to the market. Faced with such a buoyant market, growers are tending to cut the pineapple before it is fully ripe. But the pineapple ripens on the plant itself. Fruits that are cut green have trouble ripening afterwards. The goods received is with a very green colour - between 0 and 1 - and with a few Brix less, even if this remains acceptable in terms of taste. Despite the relatively green pineapples and very high prices, customers are asking for pinaples in this "back-to-school" period.
Spain: Demand for ready-to-eat pineapple increases compared to green pineapple
"In Spain in general we see an increase in demand for ready-to-eat coloured pineapple compared to green pineapple, which is practically left to hotel chains and other types of businesses with high consumption that are looking for a cheaper fruit that can be stored," explains a Spanish operator specialising in exotic products.
"At the import level, this year we feel that less pineapple is coming in from Costa Rica because it seems that production may have dropped. From my point of view, this lower volume of pineapple has made the market more stable and there is even a shortage of pineapple instead of the surplus that we have seen in recent years, especially at certain times. However, due to fewer imports, sales prices have risen, although there are still good sales of pineapple. It should be noted that ready-to-eat pineapple is sold today in Spain in practically all the chains and fruit shops in the country. For our part, we are looking for new suppliers and seeing this lower volume from Costa Rica this year, we are going to test other origins; and we will start with Panama. In previous years, Panamanian pineapple did not reach the quality level of pineapple grown in Costa Rica, but we have seen a substantial improvement in the fruit they are getting."
South Africa: Poor demand to increase from next month
Pineapples are available all through the year in South Africa, but towards October and November volumes will increase as summer progresses and the fruit will become sweeter, notes a market agent who adds that pineapple demand is very poor at the moment, in tune with general slow demand at the fresh produce markets.
Fresh pineapples of the Queen variety are grown around Hluhluwe, KwaZulu-Natal, while Cayenne pineapples are grown for processing and juicing around Bathurst in the Eastern Cape.
Pineapple farmers deliver much directly to retail prepackers and processors, besides the fresh markets. The price for an 8kg carton of large pineapples (counts 8 to 12) lies between R110 (5.6 euros) and R130 (6.6 euros), which is, a buyer says, a very good price. In general there is not much of a market for smaller counts; some farmers export baby pineapples by airfreight.
At a retailer known for its bountiful fresh offerings, two loose pineapples go for 2.3 euros (R45) at the moment. During the pineapple Covid heyday, when South Africans were buying pineapples to make beer to circumvent an alcohol ban, the fruit sold for as much as R250 (12.6 euros) per 8kg carton.
North America: Pineapple supply down in one region, back up in another
After Veracruz, Tabasco is Mexico's second-largest pineapple-growing region with ideal temperatures and optimal hours of sunlight. Subsequently, supply is available 48-50 weeks/year. However, the absence of rain in early 2024 and extremely high summer temperatures are impacting volume.
Drought due to low rainfall levels has resulted in projected volumes to be 35 percent lower this year compared to the 2023 season and impacted fruit size. Reduced acreage is also playing a role in lower volumes. Availability of large-size fruit (5s, 6s) has decreased by 45 percent and medium and small-size fruit (7s, 8s, 9s) is down 18 percent.
A lack of large-size pineapples has caused elevated pricing. Pricing on medium and small fruit is up 20 percent over last year.
Meanwhile, in the past few weeks, Costa Rican supply is increasing again. This follows a challenging few months of tight supply due to weather conditions during the growing period. Drought was also a concern. With more product coming in, pricing has softened weekly. As for demand, it's sluggish – stronger recent pricing may be a factor in slowing that demand down.
China: Price of imported pineapples rebounds
The arrival of Indonesian pineapples has decreased recently, leading to a price rebound. Earlier, dense shipping schedules caused a concentrated arrival that slowed sales, leading to inventory backlogs and quality issues, which lowered the market.
Currently, the volume of Indonesian and Philippine pineapples on the market has decreased, and prices are gradually recovering.
Next week's topic: Oranges