The shortage of pineapples from Costa Rica in the first quarter was important (-25% volume in 3 months) but not to an extent that opportunities arose for other pineapple producing countries. Other Latin American countries such as Ecuador, Honduras and Brazil export pineapples, but in much more limited volumes.
Mr Pons explains that West Africa (the Ivory Coast and Ghana) is “less productive and less competitive than Costa Rica and doesn’t have sufficient volume to make up for shortages.” He says that many French speaking African countries supply the French market due to historic relationships with France and the popularity amongst some French clients of the Smooth Cayenne variety, which they still produce. Meanwhile, the transit-time is too long for exporting pineapples from the Philippines to Europe under good conditions in terms of quality.
During the shortage at the start of the year, prices only increased by 12-15% on average due to promotional offers carried out by certain supermarkets. Following the shortage in volume in the first quarter, there is now more offer than demand and prices are decreasing.
However, whilst volume will remain high over the next 3-4 weeks, it will balance out with demand, Mr Pons says that “This situation is temporary, the market should regularise as of mid-June”. The 2017 pineapple market is expected to be relatively low compared to the last two years as it will be impossible to make up for the 4 month shortage at the start of the year.
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