Pineapple, the tropical fruit known for its vibrant flavour and nutritional value, is among the most widely consumed fruits globally. Whether eaten fresh, canned, or juiced, pineapples are a favourite in both domestic and international markets. But have you ever wondered which country stands as the top pineapple producing country in the world? Let’s explore the global pineapple production landscape and the country that leads the way in terms of volume, cultivated area, and exports.

Top Pineapple Producing Country in the World.

Pineapples (Ananas comosus) thrive in warm, humid tropical climates with well-drained soil. They are primarily cultivated in Asia, South America, and Africa. The global demand for pineapple has surged in recent years due to its rich content of vitamin C, bromelain (a digestive enzyme), fibre, and antioxidants.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the world produces over 28 million metric tons of pineapples annually. Several countries contribute significantly to this total, but one country dominates in both quantity and scale.

Top Pineapple Producing Country: Costa Rica

Costa Rica holds the crown as the largest pineapple producer in the world, both in terms of production volume and exports. The Central American country has positioned itself as a global leader through strategic farming practices, ideal climatic conditions, and strong export infrastructure.

Production Statistics (2024 Estimates):

• Annual Production: Over 3.2 million metric tons
• Cultivated Area: ~50,000 hectares
• Contribution to World Production: ~11.5%
• Primary Export Markets: USA, EU (Germany, Netherlands, UK), Canada, and Japan
• Revenue from Pineapple Exports: Approx. USD 1 billion/year

Why Costa Rica Leads in Pineapple Production

Several factors contribute to Costa Rica’s dominance in the pineapple industry:

1. Ideal Agro-Climatic Conditions

Costa Rica’s tropical climate with year-round warm temperatures, regular rainfall, and fertile volcanic soils creates the perfect environment for pineapple cultivation. The highlands and lowlands both support pineapple growth, enabling year-round harvests.

2. Technological Advancements

Modern agricultural practices and precision farming techniques have helped Costa Rican farmers optimise yield and maintain quality. The use of disease-resistant varieties, drip irrigation, and mechanised harvesting is widespread.

3. Export-Oriented Industry

Over 90% of Costa Rica’s pineapple production is intended for export. The country has invested heavily in cold chain logistics, certification (like GLOBALG.A.P.), and traceability to meet strict international standards.

4. Government & Private Sector Support

The Costa Rican government and private sector collaborate to boost pineapple production through training, subsidies, and export promotion programs. This includes ensuring environmental sustainability and labour welfare in plantations.

Popular Pineapple Varieties Grown in Costa Rica

Costa Rica primarily focuses on cultivating high-quality, export-grade pineapple varieties that meet international market demands. The most prominent among them is:

1. MD2 (Golden Sweet) – The Star Export Variety

• Characteristics: Extra sweet, low acidity, golden-yellow flesh, uniform cylindrical shape, and longer shelf life.
• Why it’s popular: This variety dominates over 90% of Costa Rica’s exports due to its consistent taste, attractive appearance, and excellent shipping durability.
• Target Markets: USA, Europe, Canada, Japan.

2. Smooth Cayenne – Traditional Variety

• Characteristics: High juice content, slightly tart flavour, pale yellow flesh, and spiny leaves.
• Use: Primarily used for canning and juice processing.
• Declining Usage: Although once widely grown, it’s now replaced mainly by MD2 for fresh fruit exports due to shorter shelf life and acidity.

3. Queen (Mauritius) – Minor Cultivation

• Characteristics: Smaller fruit size, crisp texture, high sweetness, intense aroma.
• Status: Rarely grown and not a significant export variety in Costa Rica, but found in niche or local markets.

Also Read: Top Mango Producing Country in the World.

Other Major Pineapple Producing Countries

While Costa Rica is the leader, several other countries also play significant roles in the global pineapple market:

Rank	Country	Production (Million Metric Tons)
1	Costa Rica	3.2
2	Philippines	2.7
3	Thailand	2.6
4	India	1.8
5	Indonesia	1.5
6	Nigeria	1.3
7	China	1.1
8	Brazil	1.0
9	Vietnam	0.9
10	Mexico	0.8

The Philippines – A Strong Contender

The Philippines is a major pineapple producer and exporter, primarily known for canned pineapples. Companies like Del Monte and Dole operate massive plantations here. However, much of the production is corporate-controlled and vertically integrated, limiting smallholder involvement compared to Costa Rica.

Pineapple Industry in the Philippines

Cultivable Area & Total Production

• The Philippines had approximately 66,000 hectares under pineapple cultivation in 2022, expanding to around 69,150 ha by December 2023, making it one of the top global producers by area (Reddit).
• In 2022, pineapple production reached about 2.914 million metric tons, placing the country as the world’s second largest producer behind Indonesia, just edging out Costa Rica (Helgi Library).
• The Philippines consistently exports around 600,000 metric tons in 2023, mainly to China (43 %), Japan and South Korea (30 % total), with processed products also shipped to Canada and the U.S. (ResearchGate).

Popular Pineapple Varieties grown in the Philippines.

The main varieties grown in the Philippines are:

• MD2 – A sweet, export‑grade variety prized for long shelf life and consistent quality, dominating fresh fruit exports.
• Smooth Cayenne (Hawaiian) – Widely planted for both canned and fresh consumption; noted for high juice content and slightly tart flavour.
• Queen (Formosa) – Small, intensely sweet with crisp flesh; harvested locally and exported in limited quantities.
• Red Spanish (Native Philippine Red) – Traditional cultivar with reddish‑brown or yellow‑orange skin; rare but cultivated locally in Western Visayas.

Employment & Economic Contribution

• Agriculture accounts for about 25% of the Filipino workforce and 9% of GDP; pineapple is one of the country’s major fruit exports (Wikipedia).
• In 2022, pineapple farming generated approximately PHP 30.2 billion (~USD 550 million) in gross value added, contributing around 1.4% of the Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing (AFF) sector’s GVA (ResearchGate).
• Roughly 70% of pineapple output is produced by multinational companies (mainly Del Monte and Dole) via grower-lessee arrangements, operating on leased farms in Mindanao, especially Northern (60%) and Southern (25%) Mindanao.
• These agribusiness firms provide thousands of direct and indirect jobs, and invest in community infrastructure—including housing, schools, and healthcare—benefiting rural households across the pineapple growing region.

India – High Domestic Consumption

India ranks fourth in global pineapple production, mainly from the states of West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, and Meghalaya. However, most of India’s pineapples are consumed domestically, with minimal exports. The lack of cold storage and poor export infrastructure limits India’s global presence in the pineapple trade.

India’s Pineapple Industry:

Cultivable Area & Total Production

• As of 2022–2023, India had around 1.6 million ha of pineapple harvested area, producing approximately 1.60 million metric tonnes—placing India among the top five producers globally. However, most of its pineapples are consumed domestically.
• Annual output ranges between 1.2 and 1.85 million tonnes, depending on source—Helgi reports 1.85 Mt in 2022, while APEDA data gives 1.60 Mt for 2023‑24,

Popular Varieties Grown in India

• The most commonly cultivated varieties are Kew, Queen, and Mauritius, with Giant Kew, Charlotte Rothschild, Jaldhup, Desi, and Lakhat also grown in select regions.
• Queen variety is especially favoured in West Bengal (Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, Darjeeling) for its sweet aroma and flavour.
• Kew (also called Giant Kew) is preferred for juice and canning due to its size and high yield.
• Kerala’s famed Vazhakulam pineapples (a Kew/Mauritius hybrid) hold a GI tag and are celebrated for their distinctive taste and aroma.

Employment & Livelihood Generation

• Pineapple farming remains a vital livelihood in tribal and rural areas of West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya, Karnataka, Kerala, Manipur, and Nagaland—especially among smallholder and tribal farmers.
• Though precise employment numbers are unavailable, pineapple cultivation supports thousands of rural households, and labour is required across planting, harvesting, transport, and limited processing.

Revenues & Market Value

• The domestic pineapple market in India was valued at about USD 1.1 billion in 2022, a steady sector growing roughly 3% year-on-year.
• Export volumes are modest: in 2023–24, India exported around 7,400 tonnes of fresh pineapple, valued at just over USD 5.36 million, mainly to the Maldives, UAE, Qatar, and a few other countries.

Key Insights

Unlike Costa Rica and the Philippines—where most pineapple is export‑oriented—India’s pineapple industry is mainly domestically consumed, with limited processing infrastructure and exports.

Productivity averages around 15–17 t/ha, which is below the global average of ~22.6 t/ha.

The sector remains critical for rural livelihoods, especially in tribal and northeastern states, though greater investment in cold storage and processing could unlock higher market value.

Economic Significance of Pineapple Production

Pineapple farming is a vital source of income and employment in many tropical countries. For Costa Rica, it is one of the top three agricultural exports, providing livelihoods for over 30,000 workers directly and many more indirectly.

Exports of fresh pineapples contribute substantially to foreign exchange reserves, rural development, and GDP. The fruit’s versatility and increasing global health consciousness ensure steady demand.

Pineapple Trade and Export Trends

The international pineapple market is booming due to the fruit’s health benefits and versatility in food processing. Pineapples are exported in:

• Fresh form (whole or sliced)
• Canned (syrup or juice)
• Frozen or dried
• Juice concentrates

Costa Rica dominates the fresh pineapple market, especially in the USA and Europe, due to its strategic location and trade agreements.

Sustainability Concerns

Despite its economic benefits, large-scale pineapple cultivation in Costa Rica has raised concerns over:

• Deforestation
• Soil degradation
• Water contamination from agrochemicals
• Worker conditions

To address these, many companies are adopting eco-friendly certifications, reforestation efforts, and labour rights programs to ensure sustainable production.

FAQs

1. Which country produces the sweetest pineapples?

Hawaii, the Philippines, and Costa Rica are all known for sweet pineapple varieties, particularly MD2, the variety widely grown in Costa Rica.

2. Why is Costa Rica successful in pineapple exports?

The company benefits from an ideal climate, year-round production, global certifications, logistics infrastructure, and strategic trade partnerships.

3. Is pineapple farming profitable?

Yes, especially for export-focused farming in countries with proper infrastructure and market access. However, input costs, sustainability, and logistics are critical.

4. What is the most exported pineapple variety?

MD2 (Golden Sweet) – known for high sugar content, uniformity, longer shelf life, and vibrant yellow flesh.

5. Which country consumes the most pineapples?

The United States is the largest importer and consumer of fresh pineapples globally.

Also Read: Top Banana Producing Country in the World.

Conclusion

Costa Rica’s reign as the top pineapple-producing country in the world is backed by its rich natural resources, export-focused agriculture, and strong infrastructure. While other countries like the Philippines and Thailand also produce significant quantities, Costa Rica’s consistency, quality control, and global reach make it the undisputed leader.

As the demand for tropical fruits grows globally, the pineapple industry is set for further expansion. However, it must balance profitability with sustainability to ensure long-term success and ecological balance.