Pineapples

Costa Rica’s agricultural exports, led by pineapples and bananas, increased by 7.5 per cent between January and April this year compared with the same four months of 2010, according to new official figures.

At a press conference held earlier this week, the Costa Rican minister for external trade, Anabel Gonzalez, said that the export rises during the four months represented the sixth consecutive period of growth for the country’s overseas business.

Pineapples continue to be the single biggest export product for Costa Rica in volume terms, with sales between January and April reaching US$243m - an increase of 5 per cent from the same four months of 2010.

This was followed by bananas at US235m, although exports this year featured a drop of 4.2 per cent.

For all Costa Rica’s exports, the US remains the largest market, receiving 38 per cent of goods, followed by Central America with 20 per cent and Europe at 19 per cent.