In 2015, Sugarloafs enabled Benin to ramp up its pineapple exports considerably. Unfortunately, in 2016 several interceptions made in France by the fraud prevention services showed that these fruits contained ethephon doses well above the authorised level. Despite several attempts to adjust the doses to comply with the regulations, breaches of MRL remained excessive (over 2 mg/kg). Admittedly, unlike for Cayenne or Sweet, no technical procedure able to dose ethephon correctly has yet been developed for Sugarloaf. Hence it is practically impossible to produce coloured pineapples complying with the MRLs. So how come coloured Sugarloafs from Togo or Ghana can be found on the market despite several interceptions for exceeding the MRL (Togo)? Is it a case of double standards? The very fact of asking the question may well provide the answer.
In 2016, on the back of the Sugarloaf inspections, the DGCCRF also began to look at Cayenne and Sweet batches from across all the origins. The results were satisfactory overall, although some more cases of breaching the ethephon MRL were found in Cayenne from Benin.
The Beninese producers’ inability to produce coloured Sugarloafs compliant with the ethephon MRL is understandable, insofar as there is no specific technical procedure for this fruit. The Beninese industry has had to take decisions. Some have been beneficial out of necessity, while others have been more surprising.
Among the necessary measures, we can mention the cessation of applying ethephon on
Sugarloafs, which has had the consequence of exports of green fruits, their natural coloration. The main importers have put in a great deal of work to explain to consumers that the green colour has in no way altered the fruit’s taste quality. Meanwhile, it also helped Beninese producers to tidy up their structure, which had not previously been the case.
Unfortunately, we cannot help but observe that since then sales have constantly declined. Certain importers claim that they are currently able to offload less than 40 % of the volumes previously imported. In addition, the presence of a coloured Sugarloaf supply from Togo and Ghana complicates the sale of these green fruits, and completely blurs the message that the producers and importers are trying to convey. While the green batches are struggling to find takers at between 1.90 and 2.00 euros/kg, the coloured batches from Togo and Ghana are selling easily at between 2.30 and 2.50 euros/kg!
Since December 2016, while the operators were getting ready to launch their air-freight pineapple campaign in earnest, the Beninese authorities have decided to suspend exports of all coloured pineapples. As laudable as this decision may be, it remains incomprehensible in more than one respect. First of all, there is a technical procedure specific to Cayenne which makes it possible to have coloured fruits without breaching the ethephon MRL. Why prevent their exports? In addition, certain exporters commissioned inspections by their importers and complied with the maximum authorised limits. Why penalise them in the same way as those failing to comply with these MRLs? Thus this decision led to a redefinition of the air-freight market supply.
Benin, which was one of the key players in the Cayenne supply along with Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, has disappeared. Its market share has been divided between the origins that were its competitors.
In the absence of the Beninese Cayenne, the air-freight market was less heavily laden, and sales were more fluid overall. Indeed, volumes on the market found takers fairly easily, although some quality concerns could be observed at times here and there (on certain Cameroonian batches especially).
Since the beginning of the year, Côte d’Ivoire seems to be the origin that has best taken advantage of the absence of Benin to strengthen its position with specialised dealewrs.
The Ghanaian supply, which is at the top of the table in price terms, remains very limited in volume. Only a few operators will work with this origin, given the high transport costs.
We might have believed that the disappearance of one of the players would create a shortage, and indeed a spectacular increase in rates, but this was not the case. Prices of fruits from origins competing against Benin have strengthened, and purchasers have gradually got out of the habit of procuring from this origin. We have also seen the development of a highly coloured top-up Sweet supply from Cuba, Panama and the Dominican Republic, which although still limited, is selling on a stable footing of between 2.40 and 2.70 euros/kg!
By opting for the easy solution to prevent any MRL breaches on Cayenne exports, the Beninese authorities may, unwittingly, have led their export pineapple sector offside
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