In the first three quarters of 2006 (January-September), Japan imported fewer canned fruits than in the same period last year (2005); Japan seems to have lost interest in canned fruits of all varieties. The only exception is the export of canned South African pears, which is the second-lowest import of canned fruit from Japan, but which has increased slightly (by only 110 tons).

In recent years, though, South Africa has had problems exporting canned fruits, such as poor fruit harvests and a strong currency. But since then, South Africa has exported the largest number of canned pears to Japan. For several years, South Africa's canned pear exports have also maintained the highest figure, indicating that South Africa has the potential to regain an important international exporter of canned fruit. Unfortunately, the export of canned fruits from other countries in South Africa has not shown signs of recovery.

During January-September 2006, Japan imported 2,814 tons of canned pears from South Africa; the increase in South Africa's exports was largely due to a reduction in Australian pear production during the 2005/06 season. Among the canned fruits imported more prominently in Japan, Japanese citrus imports were more stable than in 2005. Total imports of canned pineapples, on the other hand, declined year-on-year; exports from each of the major exporters of canned pineapples to Japan declined disappointingly; hence Japan's interest in this tropical fruit is waning.

Since 2004, the import of Japanese pineapple cans has been showing a downward trend. Between 2006 and September, Japan imported 35,820 tons of canned pineapples, the lowest in five years.

Mature citrus market

In recent years, the total amount of canned citrus imported from Japan has not changed much, and there are various indications that the market is a mature one. During the period from 2006 to June, the quantity of canned citrus imported from Japan was equal to the total amount imported in the same period in 2005. A major change has been the export of canned citrus from Turkey to Japan. In the past, Turkey was Japan's fourth largest exporter of canned citrus; in the first nine months of 2006, Turkey exported only 160 tons of canned citrus to Japan. South Korea has become Japan's sixth most important exporter of citrus.