Mango: Market conditions changed gradually in March. Europe had been supplied mainly by Peru but the falling quantities were gradually compensated by more substantial deliveries from Brazil. The month was also marked by the serious worsening of the quality of Peruvian fruits. However, prices remained high for good quality fruits with the increase in demand at the end of the month at the approach to Easter (12 April). Pineapple: Pineapple supply was fairly small overall in March, even at the approach to Easter. Sales of air pineapple were brisker. However, the quality problems that affected fruits in certain supplier countries had an effect on demand and on the sales of the more 'fragile' sources. In contrast, the 'Victoria' pineapple market was more hard hit, with very small supply and difficult sales. Sea freight: A review of March or indeed the first quarter of 2009 is contingent on the context of perspective from which it is viewed. Certainly relative to last year, indeed the past five years, the TCE average is desperately disappointing especially given that bunker prices were almost 100% higher 12 months ago. More worrying though is that chartering activity levels fell back to almost nothing, which is unusual for mid September let alone mid March.