European pineapple markets are subdued in early November, with demand slowing and prices under pressure. Consumption in Italy remains low ahead of the December rebound, while oversupply of larger sizes continues to weigh on the Dutch market. In Germany, the shift toward crownless pineapples is reshaping retail logistics, and French distributors rely on price promotions to clear stocks. Spain's pineapple market continues to face supply pressure as weather-related production losses in Costa Rica ripple through European distribution channels.
In North America, supply remains tight as weather disruptions in Costa Rica constrain volumes and strengthen grower prices. South Africa's market remains balanced, with firm prices supported by limited supply. India is working to expand exports with new varieties and improved logistics, while Costa Rican growers contend with rainfall, heat stress, and pest pressure.
© Viola van den Hoven-Katsman | FreshPlaza.com
Panama continues to expand production and exports despite domestic challenges, supported by growing demand in Europe and North America. Peru's Golden pineapple is gaining traction in frozen and processed formats, while Mexico's strong domestic consumption limits export potential. Colombia continues to face export logistics and certification constraints, and Ecuador's shipments grow steadily, driven by solid demand from key international markets.
Italy: Quiet market before December recovery
November continues to be a month of low pineapple consumption. An importer from northern Italy confirms this, adding: "As far back as I can remember, I don't recall a November with strong demand or high prices for this product. The current trend confirms that pattern." Currently, small- to medium-sized pineapples are sold wholesale for between €9.50 and €11.50 per box, while larger sizes range from €12 to €14 per box. The quality is good when the pineapples come from Costa Rica, which remains the world's best production area. "I believe that, as usual, consumption will start picking up again on December 8," he adds.
An importer from central Italy reports that the pineapple trade in 2025 has been generally positive so far, with sustainable average prices and a fairly balanced market thanks to slightly lower supply than demand. However, there have been some challenging moments, such as the sharp downturn at the end of October caused by logistical delays and weaker consumption. This downturn pushed prices down by €3 to €4 per box in just a few days. Supply issues mainly stem from reduced production in Costa Rica, linked to a "natural flowering" phenomenon, and from competition with markets such as the United States, Russia, and the Middle East, which have attracted higher-priced volumes. The orange juice shortage has also impacted the market, prompting processors to buy more pineapples, including smaller-sized fruit. Finally, the importer emphasizes the need for an economically sustainable supply chain, since the model of "counter" fruit sold at very low prices (around €0.99) no longer covers the real costs of production and logistics.
According to YouGov data, just over 7 million households purchased pineapples in the period ending September 2025, compared with nearly 8 million two years earlier. In addition to the decline in the number of buyers, the frequency of purchases has also fallen for what was once the first tropical fruit to become a staple on Italian tables. Pineapple purchases now show a single seasonal peak: December.
Netherlands: Surplus in larger sizes weighs on the market
The pineapple market is currently experiencing an unusual situation. Even though supply from Costa Rica is not exceptionally high, the market is seeing more product available than there is demand. "There are particularly large surpluses in the bigger sizes. I expect North America to reduce its pineapple purchases. They mainly take the larger sizes, and if they don't order, Europe is basically the only alternative," says a Dutch importer.
According to the importer, pineapple prices are currently around €10 to €11, and some fruit is being offered at even lower prices. "For a healthy market price, you would usually need at least €12 to €13, but that is difficult right now. There is quite a bit of older stock on the market. Crownless pineapples, which are often larger sizes, are also appearing on the open market at dumping prices. This means that Europe is temporarily dealing with an oversupply, and we just have to work through it."
"This also reflects the overall market situation, because when I speak to other importers, very few products are moving well," he continues. "The market usually picks up toward the end of the year, but we'll have to wait until late November or early December. The Americans will also need to start loading pineapples for their customers. We are eagerly awaiting that."
Germany: Retailers adopt crownless pineapples to reduce transport volume
At the wholesale market, the purchase price currently ranges between €14 and €18 per box. Most of the pineapples on the market come from Costa Rica or Panama, although some retailers also offer fruit from Africa, particularly Ghana. Overall, supply and demand remain stable.
Crownless pineapples are becoming increasingly common in Germany. The retail chain Penny recently announced a switch to crownless pineapples to reduce transport volume and CO₂ emissions. Crownless fruit has long been used in the fresh-cut industry, and according to a fruit-cutting company, the additional cost is minimal in most cases.
France: Retail promotions aim to stabilise sales and prices
The pineapple market has recently faced weak demand, particularly at the end of October. Late school holidays and tighter household budgets led to reduced fruit consumption. To stimulate sales, large retailers launched promotional campaigns and clearance operations on tropical fruits such as pineapple, banana, and mango. While these measures help reduce stock, they also lower product value.
Current wholesale prices range between €10 and €12 per box, reaching €12–15 for higher-quality fruit. A stable price within this upper range would represent a fair balance for both producers and consumers.
The overall quality of pineapples from Cameroon, Costa Rica, and Côte d'Ivoire remains high, with sweetness levels between 12 and 14 Brix, good ripeness, and consistent batches receiving positive consumer feedback. However, availability varies by size, occasionally creating challenges in meeting specific market requirements. The sector now anticipates a rebound in November to restore momentum.
Spain: Pineapple market adjusts to reduced Costa Rican supply
In late 2024 and early 2025, heavy rains in Costa Rica severely affected pineapple production, limiting fruit availability throughout the year. This situation will also be evident during the Christmas season, when demand increases and supply may not be sufficient to meet market needs.
In the distribution sector, the trend is becoming increasingly clear: colored pineapples have gained a dominant position over green pineapples, which continue to lose shelf space and consumer preference. With their more appealing appearance and optimal ripening, colored pineapples are better suited to current market demands and the sales strategies of distribution chains, which favor visually attractive and fast-moving products. This shift in preference has led operators to reorient their supply and logistics planning toward colored pineapples, reinforcing their position as the benchmark variety in key European markets.
In the Spanish market, pineapple supply has been affected throughout the year by the production situation in Costa Rica. During the summer, the market was impacted by natural flowering, a physiological process that causes spontaneous blooming and leads to a temporary oversupply within a short period. This resulted in downward pressure on prices. After the summer, the situation improved as lower product volumes entered the market, allowing it to stabilize. However, in October and early November, the market showed slower activity due to a slight increase in available volumes and more restrained demand.
North America: Strong juice demand tightens fresh market supply
Pineapple supply remains tight. Weather-related challenges across Costa Rica have disrupted planting and harvest schedules, reduced export volumes, and caused variability in size and quality.
Overall, supply is slightly tighter than in late 2024. Trade reports throughout 2025 have projected reduced availability, and markets are firmer than last year due to weather pressure in Costa Rica. In North America, the country accounts for about 90 percent of imported volume, with the remainder supplied by Honduras, Guatemala, and, to a lesser extent, Ecuador. In logistics, conditions at the Panama Canal have improved compared with the severe bottlenecks of 2024, enhancing transit reliability. Even so, traffic has not yet returned to historic levels.
Demand remains strong, particularly from juice processors. Growers are receiving attractive prices for juice-grade fruit, and at certain market levels, it is more profitable to sell to processors than to the fresh export market. As a result, a significant share of fruit, especially smaller sizes, has been diverted from the fresh export trade, tightening overall supply and supporting higher prices for growers. Overall, pricing remains more favorable to growers compared to a year ago.
South Africa: Stable demand and firm prices with limited supply
Pineapple consumption is usually bolstered by the transition from citrus to deciduous and subtropical fruit during October and November.
Pineapples are selling well, says a Gauteng market agent. Ten pineapples in an 8kg box (10s) sell for approximately €6, 8s for €5.50, 12s for €5, and 14s for €4. "So the prices are good: not too expensive, not too cheap."
Another agent notes that a single good-sized pineapple currently sells for between €0.50 and €0.60, a relatively high price compared to the usual range of €0.35 to €0.40. Supplies are on the low side, and there is no oversupply.
Pineapple volumes for the rest of the summer are hard to predict, as excessive rainfall or high temperatures can have a major impact. However, barring any setbacks, volumes are expected to remain high.
Gauteng is supplied by the Hluhluwe district in KwaZulu-Natal, the country's largest pineapple-producing area, while Eastern Cape growers supply the Western Cape and also produce pineapples for juicing and drying, mainly the Cayenne variety. There are also exports of dried pineapple.
India: Exports targeted with new pineapple varieties
India's pineapple production has risen nearly 60% since 2020, with total output now exceeding one million tons annually. The majority of export-quality pineapples are of the "Queen" variety, also known as the Vazhakulam Pineapple, cultivated mainly in Kerala's Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts. Despite India ranking among the world's top five producers, fresh pineapple exports account for less than 1% of production.
Export volumes have increased slightly, primarily serving Gulf countries and the Maldives. However, farm-gate prices have declined by about 11% compared to last year, affected by year-round domestic availability. Export logistics remain challenging due to the fruit's high water content and perishability; air freight is preferred but expensive, while sea freight offers cost advantages but limits transit time to approximately three weeks.
India's pineapple export expansion includes efforts to access European markets, particularly the UK. The adoption of varieties such as MD-2, known for its longer shelf life, is being explored. At the same time, collaborative research is underway to address soil and climatic challenges that restrict MD-2 cultivation in Kerala.
Costa Rica: Growers face delays, pest pressure, and rising costs
Climate change has severely impacted pineapple production in Costa Rica, with rainfall up to 30% above average and record-high temperatures. Plantations in regions such as Río Cuarto and Sarapiquí report delays in planting, plant stress, and increased pest infestations. Lower availability is expected for 2026, which is already driving up international prices.
Growers are adopting adaptation techniques such as mound planting and sanitary management. Costa Rica remains the world's leading exporter, although its competitiveness is being challenged by higher production costs and lower yields compared to Panama's recovery and Peru's expanding presence in the market.
Panama: Exports to Europe and North America continue to grow
Costa Rica's production deficit has driven a 30–40% annual increase in Panama's pineapple output, strengthening its position in the U.S., Canada, and European markets. During the peak of the shortage, pineapple boxes reached record prices of about €14.90 to €15.80 Ex-Works, now stabilizing between €6.50 and €7.40.
Despite heavy rainfall and a weakened domestic economy, the sector continues to expand. Europe offers better prices for smaller calibers and sweeter fruit. Air shipments are becoming increasingly important, helping to position Panamanian pineapples in the premium segment.
Peru: Golden pineapple exports expand across key markets
The Golden pineapple is driving agricultural export growth in Peru, with increasing volumes coming from the central jungle and northern coast. The country faces logistical and supply consolidation challenges but is benefiting from reduced availability in Central America and growing demand for organic and processed fruit. Prices remain competitive in European and U.S. markets, where frozen and dehydrated formats continue to gain popularity.
Mexico: Domestic consumption restricts market growth
Estimated pineapple production in Mexico stands at around 1,247,000 tons. The United States remains the main export market, primarily for fresh fruit. However, most of the country's production is consumed domestically, limiting export volumes. Growth has also stagnated compared to other countries in the region.
Colombia: Export logistics and certification challenges persist
The estimated pineapple production in Colombia is around 919,700 tons for 2025. While the domestic market continues to expand, exports remain very limited, with only a few recent shipments recorded. Key challenges include the consolidation of export supply, cold chain development, logistics, and certification processes. International prices are under pressure due to rising regional competition.
Ecuador: Higher volumes supported by geographic advantage
Tropical fruit exports from Ecuador rose by 27%, reaching €48.6 million in pineapple sales, driven by shipments to the European Union, the United States, and Chile. Export volumes continue to increase due to strong demand and the country's favorable geographic position. However, cost pressures and growing competition underscore the need for greater value-added differentiation.
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