ABIDJAN, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The pineapple industry in Cote d'Ivoire experienced a difficult year in 2023, according to an annual report published Thursday by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
According to the report, the country's exports of pineapples to the international market reached only 23,557 tonnes, representing a decrease of 27 percent compared to the previous campaign of 32,403 tonnes and a decrease of 22 percent compared to the five-year average of 30,291 tonnes.
The FAO attributes this poor performance to unfavorable weather conditions which impacted the growing season, leading to a reduction in supply in the production areas of Cote d'Ivoire.
The report highlights that the average unit value of Cote d'Ivoire's pineapple exports to global markets fell to 460 U.S. dollars per tonne between January and July 2023, marking a 10 percent decline compared to the previous year.
In terms of destinations, the European Union remains the main market for pineapple shipments from Cote d'Ivoire. France and Belgium stand out as the main buyers, together accounting for around 57 percent of imports from the West African country.
Pineapple ranks third as a source of foreign exchange in the fruit industry in Cote d'Ivoire, after banana and mango. ■
