Xuwen County, Guangdong Province is the largest pineapple-producing area in China, and its annual output accounts for one-third of the total output of pineapple in China. Except for the relatively reduced supply from August to October, Xuwen pineapples can be supplied throughout the year.
In recent years, Xuwen pineapples have been gradually exploring overseas markets, and the export volume is increasing year by year. Regarding the development and export of Xuwen pineapples, FreshPlaza exchanged views with Mr. Chen Ruyue, the person in charge of Xuwen MuchSweet Produce Cooperatives.
"The traditional pineapple variety in Xuwen is Bali, which accounts for about 90% of the total output of Xuwen pineapples. We are working hard to adjust the varieties, upgrade the industrial structure, and introduce excellent varieties such as MD2 golden pineapple, golden diamond pineapple, and Qinglong pineapple to meet the needs of different markets. China is still a major importer of pineapples, and the domestic market for high-end pineapples is still in short supply. In addition to domestic sales, we tried to export Xuwen pineapples to overseas markets in 2020. The export volume that year was about 500 tons. Since that the export volume has increased to more than 1,000 tons this year. At present, our main export markets include Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Dubai, Singapore, etc..” Mr. Chen introduced the development of Xuwen pineapple.
"Because of the Russia-Ukraine war, the Russian market is affected by the sanctions from Europe and US. Our orders from Russia have increased significantly this year. The demand is strong and has a certain purchasing power, but it is sensitive to prices. We export to Russia by land, and generally, it takes about two weeks for the pineapples to reach consumers. Meanwhile, we also set our sights on the markets in the RCEP region, although most RCEP countries also produce pineapples, which shows that they have a mature pineapple consumption market. However, our pineapple has higher sweetness, and it may be able to make a difference in the high-end market. It is the peak export season before Christmas, and about 1-2 containers are exported every day, estimated to last for a month. However, the current shortage of containers at the port has a great impact on logistics. Otherwise, our shipments will be more."
Talking about the growing of pineapples this year, Mr. Chen said that the weather in the production area was good this year. Pineapple production has increased, and its sugar content is also higher than in the same period last year. In terms of market prices, due to the lockdown in various regions, the selling price of pineapples once dropped to close to the cost price. However, as the corresponding control measures have been lifted in multiple places recently, the price of pineapples has gradually increased.
Regarding the development of the export market, Mr. Chen said that he hopes to export some high-end pineapple varieties to more developed markets, such as Israel and Europe. Because the sugar content of these pineapple varieties can reach more than 20 degrees, it is difficult to preserve them for a long time when shipping by sea. Therefore, the company wants to try to export them to some developed countries by air.
Xuwen MuchSweet Produce Cooperatives, whose primary business includes pineapple variety breeding, planting, promotion, and agricultural machinery supporting research and development, sales, and export trade, is preparing to establish a processing plant and develop a pineapple deep processing sector. The company has its own planting base, export packaging plant, and cold storage. The company has its own brand "Nuoxiangyuan" (MuchSweet), and its sales channels include large supermarkets such as Pagoda and Hema Fresh, as well as online e-commerce. The company has national green food certification and is applying for Global GAP certification.
For more information:
Contact: Chen Ruyue
Xuwen MuchSweet Produce Cooperatives
Tel.: +86 18902222655
Email: muchsweet@sina.com