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Pineapple Exports Will Increase
20%
According to figures of the
ministry of agriculture, Costa
Rican pineapple exports will
grow 20% from an export turnover
of us$413 million dollars
in 2006 to us$500 million
dollars in 2007.
Last year the turnover increased
by us$ 90 million dollars
compared to 2005, from 685
million boxes to 80 million
boxes.
According to the president of
Canapep, which unites pineapple
producers and exporters, only
the export position in the US
still needs to be strengthened.
For Costa Rica, pineapples are
the second agricultural export
product after bananas. The major
market is the US, with 51.2% of
the total, followed by The
Netherlands with 13.8% and
Belgium with 10%.
The pineapple production in the
country is increasing fast, as
many growers of bananas, sugar
cane, yuca and cattle farmers
have switched to the production
of pineapple, to profit from the
dynamic market for this product.
Especially in the South West of
the country and at the Atlantic
coast, the production is
increasing fast.
While the growing acreage was
still at 10.000 hectares in
2004, in 2006 te amount
increased 20.000 hectares. As
long as the market prices do not
decrease internationally, this
production increase is expected
to be sustained.
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