The Chinese pineapple season is drawing to a close, and this year's market performance has been marked by significant volatility.
"In the early part of the season, particularly in March and April, pineapple prices were exceptionally high. The farmgate price more than doubled compared to previous years, reaching the highest levels seen in years," said Mr. Chen Ruyue, head of Xuwen MuchSweet Produce Cooperative. "For the mango pineapple variety, prices at the production site exceeded ￥14 ($1.94) per kilogram. The main factor behind the surge was a sharp drop in yield. Last year's super typhoon in Hainan severely damaged the plants, and a lack of rainfall during the growing period further reduced production, with per-unit yield down by nearly 50%."
However, the situation shifted in the latter half of the season. "Due to persistent high temperatures and excessive rainfall, many pineapples became overly watery. This led to a noticeable decline in fruit quality at harvest, causing prices to drop sharply and sales to slow," Chen noted. "Market performance for domestic pineapples has been underwhelming in recent weeks."
In addition to domestic cultivation and export, MuchSweet Produce is also engaged in pineapple imports, primarily focusing on the MD2 variety from the Philippines, which is available year-round. "Thanks to its consistent quality and efficient logistics, Philippine pineapples continue to dominate the Chinese import market," said Chen.
With the domestic season ending around late June, the market will soon transition fully to imported pineapples. "We expect a significant increase in import volumes. Demand for imported pineapples remains steady in China, with strong consumption in specific market segments. In recent years, consumer preferences have shifted toward higher-quality fruit, even if it means reduced purchase frequency."
MuchSweet Produce has extensive experience in pineapple farming and export, and has built a robust supply chain and processing infrastructure. "This foundation gives us a strong edge," said Chen. "In recent years, we've also expanded into the import business. In addition to the Philippines, we are actively seeking partners in other Southeast Asian production areas."
The business of MuchSweet Produce spans pineapple planting and trade, both import and export, as well as domestic distribution to wholesale markets, e-commerce platforms, food manufacturers, and frozen fruit processors. Beyond pineapples, it also deals in lychees and dragon fruit.