EU imports more pineapples from Vietnam

VNEconomyNews.com - The European Union market’s rising demand for canned pineapples has spurred Vietnam’s export of the fruit, with total outbound sales in April reaching a record high of US$1,300 per ton.

The nation’s export of the fruit is forecast to continue to climb in the second quarter. The strong demand, particularly of the Netherlands, makes the current export price exceed last year’s level by US$100 to $1,300 per ton.

But the supply does not meet the demand, according to the Research and Forecast Bureau of the Industrial and Commercial Information Center under the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Most pineapple processing facilities are running at full capacity but still falling short of the demand.

In May, the Southern Fruit Research Institute (SOFRI) in the Mekong Delta province of TienGiang suggested farmers of pineapples, together with other fruits like dragon fruits, mangoes, durians and longans, should be given access to World Bank funds to develop specialized farming areas.

With an area of more than 12,000 hectares, Tan Phuoc Commune in TienGiang Province has the largest pineapple acreage in the Mekong Delta.

According to the ministry, the export value of pineapples in the first quarter increased by nearly 60 percent year-on-year to $9 million.

The EU market imported US$4 million, up by 82 percent year-on-year. Canned and sliced-frozen pineapple items are the major exports to the EU.

May 19^th, 2011

Source: vneconomynews.com