Thailand exported almost 105,000 MT of pineapple juice concentrate (PJC) in 2017, up 23 percent from volumes in 2015 and 2016 but still well below more typical volumes just five years ago. The country’s pineapple production was hit hard in 2015 and 2016 by drought, and juice quality suffered from high nitrate levels, affecting global demand. Production in the Philippines also fell during that time, as El Niño influenced weather throughout Southeast Asia. The Philippines is traditionally the top PJC supplier to the U.S.

Costa Rica, which favors production of not-from-concentrate (NFC) juice, increased PJC production during those years, but the shift was temporary. Costa Rica exported about 31,000 MT of PJC in 2017, down 14 percent from the year before as processors returned their focus to NFC, exports of which set a new annual record volume at 173,000 MT.

Through November 2017, the U.S. had imported 62.1 million single-strength-equivalent gallons of pineapple juice, down 2 percent from those eleven months in 2016. Of that volume, the Philippines supplied 31 percent compared to 22 percent in 2016, and Thailand supplied 25 percent, down from a share of 29 percent in 2016. Imports from Costa Rica accounted for 24 percent of U.S. imports.

U.S. pineapple juice concentrate imports from major origins

 Source: USITC
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