Philippine Pineapples Tighten Global Grip as Dried Prices Hold Steady

Philippine pineapple exports continue to expand rapidly, reinforcing the country’s role as a key global supplier and tightening competition in Asian markets, while dried pineapple prices in Europe and Asia remain broadly stable. This combination of firm export demand and steady processed prices points to a generally balanced but demand-driven market. The pineapple market is being shaped by strong export growth from the Philippines, modestly rising global trade volumes and resilient demand in China, Japan and South Korea. Government-backed productivity gains in the Philippines have enabled a 19% jump in export volumes to around 810,000 tonnes in 2025, lifting the country’s share of world shipments to roughly 22%. At the same time, recent quotes for dried pineapple from Thailand and Vietnam show mostly unchanged EUR prices, suggesting downstream processors still enjoy adequate raw material availability despite tighter competition in fresh exports.

Prices

Dried pineapple prices in the benchmark European hub of Dordrecht (Netherlands) are stable, with Thai-origin pineapple dried, normal sugar, 5–7 mm quoted at 3.97 EUR/kg FCA, and 8–10 mm at 3.87 EUR/kg FCA as of 17 October 2026. Both grades have been unchanged since at least late September, indicating a sideways price trend.

Vietnam-origin pineapple dried FOB Hanoi is quoted at 6.75 EUR/kg on 17 October 2026, up slightly from 6.70 EUR/kg in early October. This modest uptick reflects firmer demand for higher-value Asian dried fruit and some cost pressure, but overall move is marginal, keeping processed pineapple markets broadly stable.

Supply & Demand

In 2025, global pineapple exports increased by about 3.7% to roughly 3.7 million tonnes. The Philippines was the main growth engine, expanding exports by approximately 19% to 810,000 tonnes and accounting for around 22% of world shipments, while still ranking second behind Costa Rica.1 This strong performance has been sustained for at least 16 consecutive years of the Philippines holding the second-place position in global pineapple exports.2

China remains the key demand centre: Philippine shipments to China rose by around 20%, supported by weather-related disruptions to Chinese domestic production and quality. Japan and South Korea together absorb nearly half of Philippine export volumes, at about 36% and 12% respectively, underpinning a deeply entrenched Asian customer base. This concentration in premium North Asian markets supports stable to slightly firmer export unit values.

Global import demand overall is firm but not overheated. While FAO data point to modest growth in aggregate trade volumes, shortages in top supplier Costa Rica have opened space for the Philippines and other origins to capture incremental demand, especially in Asia and the Middle East.3 For processors, this means competition for high-quality fruit is increasing, but overall availability remains sufficient to prevent acute price spikes.

Fundamentals

Higher Philippine exports have been driven by rising production and targeted government initiatives to lift farm productivity. These include expanded access to fertilisers, subsidised packaging materials and pest-management training programmes, which have improved yields and post-harvest handling efficiency. As a result, the average export unit value of Philippine pineapples rose by around 5% to about US$662 per tonne in 2025, reflecting both better quality and stronger demand.

China’s demand has been particularly supportive. Weather-induced issues in domestic Chinese pineapple production have pushed importers to rely more heavily on Philippine fruit, boosting volumes and allowing exporters to defend or slightly improve pricing. At the same time, long-standing relationships with Japanese and South Korean buyers provide a stable base load of demand, limiting downside risk for Philippine producers even if Chinese demand normalises.

On the processing side, stable dried pineapple prices in Europe and FOB Vietnam suggest raw material flows are adequate. The slight price increase in Vietnam indicates some firming in supply costs but not a structural shortage. Overall, the fundamentals portray a market where supply growth in the Philippines is largely keeping pace with demand, preventing a pronounced squeeze, but with clear upside bias in value-added segments.

Weather & Production Outlook

Sub-seasonal forecasts for the Philippines indicate a mixed rainfall outlook through late October and early November 2026. The national weather service projects areas of above-normal rainfall in parts of Northern and Central Luzon and the Visayas, while other regions face below-normal precipitation.4 For major pineapple-producing zones in Mindanao and Southern Luzon, this pattern points to generally adequate moisture but with pockets of dryness that will require careful on-farm water management.

Slightly warmer-than-normal temperatures are expected across much of the country in the same period, consistent with broader concerns about a strengthening El Niño pattern.4 For pineapples, which are relatively tolerant of heat compared with other fruits, the main risk lies in prolonged rainfall deficits rather than temperature alone. At this stage, however, there is no clear signal of a production shock for the 2026/27 marketing window, supporting the view of continued robust export availability.

Market Outlook & Trading Ideas

Looking ahead, the Philippines is expected to remain a highly competitive international pineapple supplier. Its established presence in Asian markets, coupled with ongoing investments in production efficiency and quality, should allow it to consolidate or even expand its 22% share of global exports. As Costa Rica grapples with more volatile output, global buyers are likely to deepen diversification into Philippine supply, particularly for MD2 and other premium varieties.

The recent 5% increase in Philippine export unit values, together with stable dried pineapple prices, suggests margins remain acceptable but not excessive for processors. For 2026–2027, a base case of steady to moderately firmer prices for both fresh and processed pineapple appears likely, especially if Chinese demand stays strong and weather risks do not materially disrupt harvests.

Trading outlook

• Buyers (importers/processors): Consider extending coverage modestly into early 2027 while dried prices remain flat in Europe (3.97/3.87 EUR/kg FCA for Thai product). Emphasise origin diversification between Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines to hedge against regional weather or logistical disruptions.
• Producers/exporters (Philippines and other origins): Use current strong demand from China, Japan and South Korea to lock in forward contracts at slightly improved terms, focusing on quality premiums rather than headline volume growth.
• Industrial users/brands: With export unit values up around 5% and little evidence of near-term easing, build moderate inventory buffers rather than relying on just-in-time procurement, particularly for high-spec product destined for premium retail markets.

3-day directional price view (dried pineapple)

Notes: (1) FAO estimate of 2025 global pineapple trade and Philippine exports; (2) confirmation of the Philippines as the world’s second-largest exporter with 810,000 tonnes in 2025; (3) indications of constrained Costa Rican supply and growing Asian demand; (4) PAGASA sub-seasonal forecast for rainfall and temperatures in the Philippines, October–November 2026.