Costa Rica's pineapple exports are poised to overtake banana shipments if the industry continues growing at its current rate, website Nacion.com reported.

The National Chamber of Pineapple Producers and Exporters (Canapep) forecast production this year will grow by 8-10%.

Promocer figures for 2011 reveal US$726 million worth of pineapples were shipped compared with US$778 million for bananas.

Over the last two decades pineapples cultivation has increased due to Costa Rica's climate, nutrient-rich soil and production advances.

Acreage devoted to pineapples has tripled from 16,000 hectares in 2003 to 42,000  in 2011 as farmers have increasingly converted land to growing the lucrative fruit.

Smallholders account for 90% of the industry with 1,250 out of the country's 1,300 pineapple farms small enterprises. About 70% of today's pineapple plantations were previously used to grow bananas and coffee.

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