COTONOU, April 1 (Xinhua) -- In Allada, a small town famed as the cradle of Benin's pineapple production, local workers bustle among piles of freshly harvested produce -- sorting, washing, and packing.
They are not average pineapples, but the "Sugarloaf," an iconic variety prized for its exceptionally sweet, low-acid flesh and delicate aroma.
On March 18, Allada hosted a ceremony marking the launch of exports of this premium fruit, with the pineapples primed for a long journey to the promising Chinese market.
"Every pineapple that crosses the seas stands as a testament to the joint efforts of the governments and enterprises of both countries, bringing the peoples of Benin and China closer together," said Chinese Ambassador to Benin Zhang Wei, who attended the event.
Previously sold mainly in local markets or exported to limited destinations abroad, Sugarloaf has now taken a decisive leap forward by entering the vast Chinese market on a large scale.
This breakthrough is the result of years of effort. It follows, in particular, the signing in September 2023 of a protocol setting phytosanitary requirements for the export of fresh pineapples. The following year, Sugarloaf turned heads at the China International Import Expo (CIIE), where it emerged as a flagship product.
As Benin's second-largest cash crop after cotton, pineapples serve as a key driver of development for local producers and small and medium-sized enterprises. With an annual output estimated at 450,000 tonnes, the sector contributes about 1.2 percent to the country's gross domestic product.
In 2020, Beninese pineapples obtained Protected Geographical Indication status from the African Intellectual Property Organization, becoming the first product in the country to receive this mark of excellence.
However, these top-tier pineapples have long struggled to gain a foothold in international markets. Logistical constraints and high costs limited exports, forcing producers to sell most of their output locally or regionally, often resulting in significant losses.
The needle shifted in December 2024, when China implemented a policy granting zero-tariff treatment to all products from least developed countries, including 33 African countries.
"In the past, we struggled to sell all our produce on the local market. Some unsold fruit went to waste, leading to considerable losses. Today, thanks to access to international markets, especially China, we are able to sell all our production easily," Tchegbenangnon Lanmandoclevo, a pineapple farmer from Sekou, Allada, told Xinhua.
The 55-year-old farmer has expanded his plantations from less than one hectare to nearly three hectares, and now employs about 80 workers per hectare to meet growing demand. Like him, many locals are seeking to seize new opportunities brought by the opening of the Chinese market.
Bertille Marcos Guedegbe, chief executive officer of Les Fruits Tillou, said the Chinese market, known for its size and purchasing power, has generated high expectations.
"We are still in a learning phase, and it is difficult to precisely estimate the revenue this will generate, but exports bring significant added value to our product," she said, whose company signed a 10-million-U.S.-dollar export contract at the CIIE in 2024.
"The opening of the Chinese market represents a major opportunity for the sector's economic growth," said Medje Yetonde Noel, a representative of the National Federation of Pineapple Producers' Cooperatives of Benin.
He highlighted efforts to ensure product quality and traceability, from plot identification to final inspections before export, including sorting, packaging and laboratory testing.
At packaging centers, these requirements are strictly enforced. "Fruit intended for export must meet rigorous criteria," Guedegbe explained, noting that pineapples should look impeccable, have unblemished flesh, and contain at least 15 degrees Brix, a measure of sweetness.
New practices, such as fumigation, have been introduced to meet phytosanitary standards, while modern infrastructure, including cold storage facilities, is being gradually put in place to preserve fruit quality, she added.
Starting May 1, 2026, China will implement a zero-tariff policy for goods from 53 African countries, a move from which Beninese pineapples are set to benefit fully.
According to PACOFIDE, Benin's government initiative to promote the agri-food sector, about 200,000 tonnes of fresh pineapples are available for export to China.
For Gaston Dossouhoui, Benin's minister of agriculture, livestock, and fisheries, the initiative opens up significant prospects for modernizing the agricultural sector, creating jobs, and improving people's livelihoods.
"It represents a promise of development and a testament to the strength of Benin-China cooperation, which will, in the coming years, boost local production and enhance the value of producers' work," the minister said.
For his part, the Chinese ambassador stressed that with the implementation of the zero-tariff policy, high-quality Beninese products destined for the Chinese market now enjoy broader business opportunities and more favorable access conditions.
From the fields of Allada to the tables of Chinese consumers, the over 10,000-km voyage of Sugarloaf illustrates the tangible results of public policies, the ever-renewing vitality of agriculture, and the real transformation in the lives of individual workers.
