Benin, a West African country, exports its pineapples almost exclusively to France. Behind this peculiarity lies the logistical factor that confines exporters to a single export market. Edouard Choubiyi, manager of Les Fruits Tropicaux, describes the country's pineapple production: "Sugarloaf and smooth Cayenne varieties are grown all year round in Benin, and production is concentrated in the south of the country, which is more humid and more suitable for this crop. We grow around 3,000 tonnes nationally, and the export campaign lasts nine months, from September to June. 85% of production is exported to France. When summer arrives, the campaign comes to a halt as French consumers turn to other fruits."
"Benin pineapples are of better quality than those of the sub-region, and there has recently been a big improvement in yield per hectare thanks to improved farming operations and higher quality inputs. We've also noticed a marked improvement in weather conditions this year compared with last. Regarding conformity, exports are sampled and tested by the food safety authorities."
"However, due to the lack of direct flights, our fruit can't find its way to other markets. There's only one direct cargo flight linking Benin to other countries, and that's to France. Our pineapples are therefore more expensive than the competition in other countries. In Senegal for example, a neighbouring country, our pineapples are more expensive than in France, and the same goes for Morocco. It's too risky to ship by road," the exporter continues.
The 2024 campaign suffered a setback due to the drop in French demand, continues Choubiyi. "There was a quality problem in a single shipment, but it penalized all exporters. This is the risk of not diversifying markets".
The 2025 campaign could be much better, with the possibility of delivering directly to China. Choubiyi says, "There have been discussions about opening up the Chinese market to Beninese pineapple exporters. We're waiting for a few technical problems to be resolved, and we hope to be able to start exporting to China in the next few months."
Meanwhile, the industry continues to modernize in the country, Choubiyi concludes: "Cold rooms have recently been built at Cotonou airport to guarantee the freshness of the fruit. We also work in collaboration with the government to ensure that all exports are tested to guarantee their quality."
For more information:
Choubiyi Edouard
Les Fruits Tropicaux
Tel: +22997325441
Email: [email protected]