Pineapples are probably original from Paraguay, from where the Spanish and Portuguese settlers introduced them into Europe. Its culture has been stimulated in several countries of Africa and the U.S.A.

The most recent sources obtained from the FAO are dated in 2000; the world-wide production was 13,455,362 t. In the previous year, 13,442,000 t of pineapple were produced in the world, practically the same amount than in 2000.

In 1998, the world-wide production was 12,100,000 t (in 2000 there was an increase in production) and it was distributed in the following way, according to the FAO Production Yearbook:

Continent	Thousand tons
Africa	1,997
Asia	6,214
Europe	2
North and Central America	1,383
Oceania	145
South America	2,359
Total	23,455

Source: FAO Production Yearbook (1998)

As it is observed, the main producer is Asia followed by South America and Africa.

The production in 1999 by continents was as follows:

Continent	Tons
Africa	2,189,000
Asia	6,895,000
Europe	2,000
North and Central America	1,587,000
Oceania	145,000
South America	2,684,000
Total	13,442,000

Source: Fresh Produce Deskbook (2001)

The ten main world-wide countries producing pineapple are:

Country	Tons
Thailand	2,280,959
The Philippines	1,495,120
Brazil	1,353,480
China	1,318,450
India	1,100,000
Nigeria	881,000
Colombia	407,753
Costa Rica	400,000
The United States of America	319,300
Kenya	280,000

Source: FAOSTAT Database Results (2000) ( http://www.fao.org )

The main producing country is Thailand (2,280,959 t), followed by the Philippines, Brazil and China.

According to the FAO’s data of 1999 1,031,980 tons were imported in the world. The chief import countries are in first place the United States of America, France and Japan. The ten main import countries are shown in the following table:

Country	Tons
The United States of America	283,090
France	168,211
Japan	89,866
Belgium-Luxembourg	87,799
Italy	74,366
Germany	60,931
Spain	39,440
Canada	32,507
United Kingdom	30,903
The Netherlands	24,222

Source: FAOSTAT Database Results (1999) ( http://www.fao.org )

In 1999, Spain imported thirty nine thousand four hundred and forty tons, occupying the seventh place in world imports.

Imports in 1999 amounted to 584,901 thousand dollars. The United States of America was the biggest economical contributor, followed by France and Belgium-Luxembourg. The following table shows the ten main countries with greater capital contribution concerning imports.

Country	Thousand dollars
The United States of America	145,206
France	89,588
Belgium-Luxembourg	54,639
Italy	49,329
Germany	45,409
Japan	44,007
Spain	25,916
Canada	21,149
United Kingdom	20,241
Switzerland	13,143

Source: FAOSTAT Database Results (1999) ( http://www.fao.org )

Spain is also occupying the seventh place with 25,916 thousand dollars.

1,051,706 tons of pineapple are exported world-wide, according to FAO’s data for 1999. The main export countries are Costa Rica, the Ivory Coast and the Philippines. The ten main countries exporting this fruit are shown in the following table:

Country	Tons
Costa Rica	353,000
Ivory Coast	183,000
The Philippines	127,682
France	108,172
Belgium-Luxembourg	68,362
The United States of America	31,521
The Netherlands	23,456
Ghana	21,849
México	19,612
Malaysia	19,086

Source: FAOSTAT Database Results (1999) ( http://www.fao.org )

Spain exported in 1999 four thousand four hundred and seventy four tons.

The world-wide exports in 1999 represented 422,736 thousand dollars. Costa Rica was the country with greater contribution, followed by France and the Ivory Coast. The following table includes the ten first countries with greater capital contribution in exports.

Country	Thousand dollars
Costa Rica	132,000
France	63,926
Ivory Coast	51,000
Belgium-Luxembourg	46,008
The Philippines	22,814
The United States of America	22,128
The Netherlands	19,349
Ghana	11,593
Italy	10,369
México	7,032

Source: FAOSTAT Database Results (1999) ( http://www.fao.org )

In 1999, Spain obtained 3,232 thousand dollars from the pineapple exports.

961,409 tons of tinned pineapple are imported world-wide, according to the FAO’s data in 1999. The main import countries are the United States of America, Germany and Japan. The ten first world-wide import countries are included in the following table:

Country	Tons
The United States of America	341,807
Germany	110,869
Japan	47,158
United Kingdom	52,122
The Netherlands	49,579
Spain	34,442
Canada	31,722
France	30,251
Italy	26,270
China	20,788

Source: FAOSTAT Database Results (1999) ( http://www.fao.org )

In 1999, Spain imported thirty four thousand four hundred and forty two tons of tinned pineapple which placed it in the sixth position of the world-wide ranking.

The world imports of tinned pineapple in 1999 resulted in 825,499 thousand dollars.

In 1999, 1,060,416 t of tinned pineapple were exported in the world, representing 675,520 thousand dollars. The main export countries are shown in the following table:

Country	Tons
Thailand	486,260
The Philippines	183,425
Indonesia	136,115
Kenya	51,626
Singapore	38,211
China	35,315
The Netherlands	31,354
South Africa	20,993
Germany	13,446
Vietnam	10,000

Source: Faostat Database Results (1999) ( http://www.fao.org )

In 1999, the Spanish exports of tinned pineapple totalled 1,460 t, representing 1,682 thousand dollars.

Regarding Spain, the pineapple culture is totally centred in the Canary Islands. The Spanish production is intended for fresh consumption, although it is also consumed in tinned slices and juice. There are no commercial nurseries in the country; a moderate increase of production is expected in the Canary Islands, extending the surface up to 400 has for market sale. In 1995 the production obtained in the Canary Islands totalled 1,300 t; the surface cultivated was 80 has. Small consignments are exported to Portugal.