Demand for pineapple juice and the growth of markets such as Israel and Dubai are boosting Costa Rican exports, despite production limitations due to weather conditions.
According to Álvaro Figueroa, president of the Tropicales del Valle company, the heavy rains since September 2024 have significantly impacted agricultural work, from soil preparation to planting. "It's been a challenging year. We've had to deal with many external factors, especially the weather," he said.
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Tropicales del Valle is a Costa Rican company specializing in high-color pineapples, both for maritime and air shipments, with a presence in Europe, Israel, Russia, and Middle Eastern countries. Different markets are increasingly demanding fruit with advanced ripeness, Figueroa said. "We are leaders in maritime shipments of high colored fruit, and that has allowed us to differentiate ourselves," he said.
Climate change has not only impacted production, but also planning. "We expect a reduction in volume between weeks 28 and 38 due to natural flowering delays. Despite this, the market situation is not bad, with prices ranging between 9 and 14 euros per box, depending on the type of fruit," Figueroa said.
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"One of the most notable trends has been the increasing demand for pineapple juice globally, partly due to the orange juice shortage. This has led many producers to send fruit to the local market for processing, especially when international prices drop. A lot of fruit is staying here to make juice and frozen pineapple," Figueroa said, highlighting the production destination's reconfiguration.
Logistically, Costa Rica maintains stable weekly departures. However, Figueroa said, there have been specific delays due to congestion at ports of call, such as Panama or Colombia. He also said that competing countries such as Mexico and Ecuador still don't match Costa Rica's economy of scale, technology, or transit times to Europe.
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One of the biggest challenges has been labor. According to Figueroa, Nicaraguan migration to the US and changes in immigration policies have notably decreased the availability of agricultural workers.
Despite these obstacles, Tropicales del Valle is growing. They currently farm 1,500 hectares and plan to expand to 2,100 hectares by 2026, by planting an additional 600 hectares. We need more fruit to meet the increasing international demand, Figueroa stated.
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The economic outlook also poses obstacles. "The revaluation of the colón against the dollar has reduced export revenues. In addition, producers are facing a new 10% tariff imposed by the US, equivalent to about one dollar less per box exported. That's a strong blow for producers," Figueroa concluded.
© Tropicales del Valle For more information:
Álvaro Figueroa
Tropicales del Valle
Alajuela, Costa Rica
Tel: +506 2239 9660
Email: [email protected]
www.tropicalesdelvalle.com
