FAO: Cote d’Ivoire records 27% drop in pineapple exports amid weather woes

COTE D’IVOIRE – A recent FAO report has unveiled a concerning 27% decline in pineapple exports from Cote d’Ivoire compared to the previous campaign, with only 23,557 tonnes shipped internationally, down from 32,403 tonnes.

Unfavorable weather conditions took center stage as the primary cause of this dismal performance, disrupting the growing season and causing a notable reduction in supply from Cote d’Ivoire’s key production areas.

The report highlighted that the average unit value of the country’s pineapple exports also experienced a 10% decline to 460 U.S. dollars per tonnes between January and July 2023.

“The pineapple industry faced unprecedented challenges in 2023, primarily due to adverse weather conditions affecting production areas in Cote d’Ivoire. This resulted in a substantial drop in both export volume and unit value,” remarked FAO spokesperson, emphasizing the impact of climate variability on the nation’s agricultural output.

Despite these setbacks, the European Union maintained its position as the primary market for Cote d’Ivoire’s pineapple exports.

France and Belgium emerged as the dominant buyers, collectively accounting for approximately 57% of imports from the West African country.

Pineapple, while facing a significant decline in exports, still holds the third position as a source of foreign exchange in Cote d’Ivoire’s fruit industry, following banana and mango.

Meanwhile, in another contrasting development, Cote D’Ivoire celebrated growth in its banana sector, as highlighted in the latest FAO annual report.

The preliminary results revealed an impressive increase of 4%, with Cote D’Ivoire placing 340,000 tons of bananas on the international market in 2023, up from 326,000 tons in the previous year.

This surge not only positions Cote d’Ivoire as a major player in the global banana market but also marks a notable recovery for the industry, which faced a similar shipment volume in 2021.

Within Africa, the country stands out as a powerhouse, contributing nearly half of the continent’s total banana exports, ranging between 650,000 and 700,000 tons annually.

The European Union, particularly France, retained its status as the primary market for Ivorian bananas, absorbing between 50% and 60% of the annual shipment volume.

The report emphasized an 11% year-on-year increase in shipments from Cote d’Ivoire to France, coupled with a 13% rise in the average unit value of exports from January to August 2023.

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