Global Pineapple Markets and Value Chains: Dynamics, Governance and Sustainability Challenges

Abstract

Pineapple has become one of the most dynamic tropical fruits in global agri-food systems, driven by rapid growth in fresh and processed markets and by rising quality and sustainability demands from retailers. Yet the benefits of this expansion are unevenly distributed across producing countries and among actors within value chains. This review synthesises recent evidence on global pineapple production and trade patterns, the architecture and governance of value chains, market dynamics in key producer countries, and emerging debates on sustainability, inclusiveness and risk. It first outlines how varietal change, supermarketization and logistics innovations have reshaped the geography and structure of pineapple markets, creating highly concentrated export systems alongside fragmented domestic chains. It then examines farm-level profitability, marketing margins and channel choice in major producer regions, highlighting persistent power asymmetries between smallholders and midstream or downstream actors. The review explores environmental pressures associated with intensive monocultures, growing interest in circular bio-economy solutions based on waste valorization, and the social implications of dualistic sector structures for farmers, workers and rural communities. Building on global value chain and sustainability–resilience perspectives, the article identifies key upgrading pathways, including process and product improvements, functional upgrading into processing and branding, and inter-chain opportunities linked to biorefinery development. Finally, it distils core policy priorities around infrastructure, finance, standards, producer organisation and innovation systems needed to make pineapple value chains more competitive, inclusive and climate-resilient. The review concludes by outlining major knowledge gaps and future research needs to better inform evidence-based interventions in this strategically important tropical fruit sector.