MANILA, Philippines — Pineapple exports from the Philippines are seen to have increased by five percent last year, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
Based on its latest major tropical fruits market review, the FAO said the country’s pineapple exports could have grown to 611,873 tons in 2023 from 582,537 tons a year ago.
The FAO cited preliminary trade data from January to July last year which showed a 22 percent increase in pineapple shipments to China, the leading recipient of pineapples from the Philippines.
China accounted for a 46 percent share of Philippine pineapple exports during the period.
“Industry sources reported that imports of pineapples from the Philippines to China benefited from higher Chinese demand for premium quality pineapples,” the FAO said.
“In this regard, the long shelf life, year-round production cycle and attractive price-to-quality ratio of the MD2 pineapples, the main variety cultivated in the Philippines, proved to be a particularly strong selling point,” the FAO said.
Aside from China, other top markets of Philippine pineapple exports include Japan and South Korea, with shares of 30 percent and 13 percent, respectively.
“Shipments of Filipino pineapples to both destinations expanded by some five to seven percent over the period,” the FAO said.
Meanwhile, the FAO noted that the average export unit value of shipments of pineapples from the Philippines to world markets stood at $585 per ton in the seven months of 2023, a two percent increase from the previous year.
The FAO report also noted that preliminary trade data showed that global exports of pineapples are anticipated to grow by around four percent in 2023, to 3.2 million tons.
It attributed the growth of global pineapple exports to higher supplies from Costa Rica, the world’s largest exporter with a market share of some 65 percent.
“According to industry information, weather conditions in key Costa Rican growing areas were favorable for the cultivation of pineapples during the first half of the year, resulting in higher yields and thus higher supplies for export,” the FAO said.
Pineapple exports from Costa Rica are expected to have increased by three percent to around two million tons.
Aside from the Philippines and Costa Rica, other top exporters of pineapples include Ecuador and Mexico, with an export volume of 120,000 tons and 60,000 tons, respectively.