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Pineapple monthly review: March 2020

Published on 17/04/2020 - Published by PAQUI T.
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Impact of Covid-19, especially on the air-freight market

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Product(s) : Pineapple
Rubrique / Thématique : Review and Forecasts
Country : Latin america , Cameroon , Europe , France , Ghana , Mauritius , Italy , Reunion
Keywords : Export , Import , Price , Production

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Since early March, the situation on the pineapple market has been tight because of the Covid-19 health crisis. The movement restrictions applied in Italy had the consequence of transferring large volumes of fruit onto several markets, including France. The recommendations made by the authorities of several European countries to restrict population movements affected pineapple demand somewhat across Europe. With the implementation of lockdown measures from the start of the second half-month, the pineapple market was split in two. Once again it was the supermarket sector which was able to prevent the worst. No stocks formed, thanks to supermarket sales, although exotic fruits found themselves somewhat abandoned in favour of staples. The spot market was non-existent, with low prices (3.00 euros/box) or even open-price sales.

The air-freight pineapple market was hit hard by the lockdown measures. In the first half-month, the supply started to wane, and demand was less lively. There was high pressure on Cayenne sales, especially since the fruit from Cameroon was of fairly heterogeneous quality. Even Sugarloaf sales were a bit quieter. From the start of the second half-month, the G rand Frais group’s Cayenne purchasing cutbacks curbed the activity of several operators. As the number of passenger flights decreased, we saw a reduction not only in supply but also air-freight activity. Only Sugarloaf seemed to find some renewed consumer interest. Reductions in passenger flights also affected the Sweet supply from Latin America, which had practically disappeared at the end of the month, enabling Sweet batches from Ghana to sell on stable footings of between 2.20 and 2.40 euros/kg.

On the Victoria market, over the first half-month there was a big Mauritian supply. Unfortunately it had heterogeneous coloration, and struggle to sell, very quickly weighing down on the market, while the few batches available from Reunion were better valued. The closure of Mauritian airspace because of Covid-19 meant that the origin practically disappeared at the very end of the month.