The Costa Rican pineapple has a prominent place in the global fruit market and its results in 2023 remained positive, despite significant logistical challenges.
Tropicales del Valle exports almost 85% of its pineapples to Europe. The U.S. market accounts for another 10%, and the rest goes to other regions, including Russia and Israel. This highlights the company's strong positioning in Europe, where it has set up a subsidiary called Tropicales del Valle Europe. In the United States, imports and direct sales are managed by Tropicales del Valle USA. This gives it greater control over the supply chain, according to Eric J. Ramírez, from the firm's commercial department.
For Ramirez, 2023 was a favorable year. "Due to the shortage of large pineapples and the limited supply in general, prices stood at sustainable levels," he says. "However, we saw a decline in the demand in the last quarter, a common occurrence before major holidays such as Thanksgiving."
Ramirez expects a similar market outlook in 2024, with the prospect of a stable production and market conditions. "Next year, we expect similar trends, with stable production and similar market dynamics," he says.
Packing facility with solar panels.
One of the biggest hurdles for Tropicales del Valle is Costa Rica's underdeveloped logistics infrastructure. "Despite having a modern terminal on the Atlantic coast, the country has difficulties in attracting fast shipping routes to distant markets such as the Middle East and Asia. This limits its ability to compete in high-value regions, such as Korea or Japan, where faster transit times are critical," says Ramirez.
"We are also limited by our small airport and the lack of a logistics hub, which prevents us from efficiently reaching distant markets by air," says Ramirez. This challenge makes it difficult to compete with countries like the Dominican Republic and Panama, which are better connected and have more competitive air transport prices.
The company exports around 11 million boxes annually and has plans to reduce that volume by around 10% in 2025 before recovering again in 2026. Its flagship product is the golden pineapple, known for its sweetness and creamy texture.
Regarding sustainability, Tropicales del Valle has numerous international certifications, including Rainforest Alliance and GlobalGAP. These certifications not only guarantee the quality of their products, but also reflect their commitment to ethical labor practices and environmental protection. "These certifications are our pride and joy," says Ramirez, noting that they play a critical role in the long-term success of their business.
For more information:
Eric Ramirez
Tropicales del Valle
San Joaquín de Flores, Costa Rica
Tel.: +506 2239 9660
Tel.: +506 8826 5735
[email protected]
www.tropicalesdelvalle.com