Pineapple monthly market review: March 2019

The pineapple exhibited a rather positive trend in March. The implementation of promotions in Germany (Lidl then Aldi North and South) really ate up the available supply. On top of that there were several shipping delays during the first half-month, which also aided fruit sales. These shortages enabled some spot sales to be made at fairly strong prices, with other operators afraid of not being able to meet their agreements with the supermarket sector. Nonetheless there was no surge in rates; sales were just more fluid. Despite a return to more normal logistical conditions in the second half-month, the market remained balanced. At the end of the month, operators were above all concerned by drought problems in Costa Rica, which could affect fruit quality and availability at Easter.

The air-freight pineapple market had a fairly lean supply throughout the month. In the first half-month, the supply remained fairly low because of the school holidays. So demand, which was slack, settled for the volumes brought to the market, with relatively stable rates. Sales were better for Sugarloaf, thanks to higher demand for coloured fruits from Togo and Ghana. Over the second half-month, the supply was very limited again. Demand for Cayenne was especially low since the fruits, across all origins, often lacked coloration. The paucity of the Sugarloaf supply enabled fruits to sell well (2.00 to 2.30 euros/kg), with better value for coloured fruit. Over the month as a whole, the Costa Rican Sweet supply, still very limited, sold on a strong footing (2.40-2.50 euros/kg).

The Victoria market was lively thanks in particular to a very small supply, especially from Reunion. So several operators switched to the Mauritian and Ghanaian supplies. These two origins sold well, despite some quality concerns due to fruit coloration and keeping.

pineapple - france - import prices for main sources