Uganda flags off first-ever export of canned pineapple to China
The inaugural shipment comprised four containers carrying 104 metric tonnes of canned pineapple produced by Deshiburg Fruits International Co. Ltd, Uganda’s first dedicated pineapple canning factory, located at the China–Uganda Agricultural Cooperation Industrial Park in Luwero district
LUWERO, May 27, 2026 — Uganda recently flagged off its first commercial export of canned pineapple to the People’s Republic of China, marking a major milestone in the country’s efforts to expand agro-processing and connect smallholder farmers to high-value international markets.
The inaugural shipment comprised four containers carrying 104 metric tonnes of canned pineapple produced by Deshiburg Fruits International Co. Ltd, Uganda’s first dedicated pineapple canning factory, located at the China–Uganda Agricultural Cooperation Industrial Park in Luwero district.
The factory provides a reliable market for more than 1,500 smallholder farmers in the districts of Luwero, Nakasongola, Nakaseke and Kayunga, where pineapple production has often been affected by price fluctuations and post-harvest losses.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Frank Tumwebaze, said the investment would transform market prospects for pineapple farmers.
“With a factory capacity of 500 tonnes of pineapples per day, we no longer have a market problem; we have a production challenge. I appeal to our farmers to produce more and meet the required standards to supply both domestic and international markets,” he said.
The minister noted that the factory significantly increases demand for pineapples and addresses the longstanding challenge of limited markets for highly perishable produce.
Owen Yin, Chairman of Deshiburg Fruits International Co. Ltd, said the launch was the result of years of cooperation between the governments of Uganda and China, as well as private sector investment.
“Our factory is operating at full capacity using locally sourced Smooth Cayenne pineapples, processed without artificial preservatives,” he said.
Yin said the company was proud to be Uganda’s first factory dedicated to canned pineapple production using the Smooth Cayenne variety.
He also announced plans to expand into pineapple juice, quick-frozen pineapple, mango juice, avocado oil, canned maize and dried tropical fruits to meet growing global demand.
The achievement underscores the impact of the FAO–China–Uganda South–South Cooperation Programme, which has supported technology transfer, the deployment of Chinese technical experts, the establishment of agro-industrial park models, and capacity-building for farmers and institutions in production, processing and market access.
In December 2025, Uganda flagged off its first shipment of dried chilli to China under the same cooperation framework. Together, these exports demonstrate the increasing competitiveness of Uganda’s value-added agricultural products in international markets.
For farmers such as Jane Nakandi, one of the factory’s out-growers, the development has brought new certainty.
“We now have a ready market for our pineapples. They are booked before they ripen, so we are assured of the market,” she said.
Deshiburg’s processing capacity of up to 500 tonnes per day is creating demand for locally grown fruit while generating jobs in production, transport, processing and logistics.
Speaking at the event in Luwero, the FAO Country Representative in Uganda, Ezana Kassa, said: “This milestone is a practical demonstration of what South–South Cooperation can achieve by linking farmers to technology, investment and markets. It shows how partnership can transform agriculture into a driver of jobs, incomes and economic growth.”
Kassa noted that the inaugural export of canned pineapple marks an important step in Uganda’s agro-industrial transformation, demonstrating the country’s shift from exporting raw agricultural commodities to supplying value-added products capable of meeting the quality and competitiveness standards of demanding international markets.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Leonard Zulu, described the export as “more than an export milestone”, calling it a story of transformation, dignity and opportunity for Ugandan farmers.
“Behind these containers are thousands of Ugandan farmers and families whose livelihoods are beginning to change through access to reliable markets and value addition,” Zulu said.
China is one of the world’s largest consumer markets, and access to it presents significant opportunities for Uganda’s value-added agricultural products.
The inaugural export of canned pineapple opens a new chapter for Uganda’s horticulture sector and strengthens the country’s position as an emerging supplier of high-quality processed foods to global markets.
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