The Ecuadorian banana continues its rise and recovery in international markets. In the first half of the year – from January to June – the fruit was sold in 190 million boxes to all its destinations, 5.42% more than what was shipped in the same period of the previous year when 180.2 million boxes were exported, according to the latest data from the Ecuadorian Banana Marketing and Export Association (Acorbanec).

The European Union and Russia confirmed themselves as their best destinations with growth of 22.35% and 7.84%, respectively. The United States followed with a growth of 9.03% with 17.7 million exported boxes. Among the good general development of fruit growing, organic bananas stand out, which make up 3.81% of total banana exports in the country, and are even one of the factors that helped increase exports to markets such as the United States of America, which is the main destination for this type of fruit, according to Richard Salazar, CEO of Acorbanec.

The peninsular banana variety MP1 is sold at Walmart in the United States

He stated that of the 7,248,481 boxes of organic bananas exported from January to June to all destinations, 5,508,844 were exported to the USA, or 76 percent. This represented 2.58% more than what was exported to that destination in the same period in 2022, when 5,370,453 boxes were shipped.

Overall, across all destinations, Ecuador grew 0.91% in organic banana exports; and besides the USA, there are also markets that stand out, for example Belgium, which grew by 625.97%, from 17,376 boxes in the first half of 2022 to 126,144 boxes this year. The second is Italy, which grew from 63,033 boxes exported in the first half of last year to 104,213 boxes from January to June 2023, with a growth of 65.33%.

There is also Japan with an increase of 12.63%, which went from 149,363 boxes in 2022 to 168,219 boxes this year.

“The markets as such are growing somewhat in Europe and the United States, Ecuador exported more organic bananas, especially this year,” said Salazar, who explained that of the more than 5 million tons of bananas imported by Europe and the United States, 12% were organic bananas imported from Ecuador and other countries.

He also indicated that the price of organic bananas is higher than conventional ones, currently the difference is between $2 to $2.50 per box. This is due to the different materials used during the development process and fertilizers that must be based on organic materials, microorganisms, minerals, banana rachis, coffee pulp, among others.

At the Organic Food & Eco Living Iberia 2023 fair, Ecuador confirmed its position as the leading exporter of organic products in the EU

According to the database of the National Customs Service of Ecuador (Senae), in 2022 there were approximately 55 exporters of organic bananas in Ecuador. Among them, the top ten are:

Banabio, for example, exports its organic fruit to Europe (Sweden, Belgium, Germany, France, Spain and Italy) and the United States, continuously for 52 weeks of the year, reported Jymy Riera, general manager of the company, which also exports to the Southern Cone, China and Turkey.

“This year, our exports have remained relatively stable compared to previous periods, every year has its peculiarities and variations, I mean the pandemic, the war between Russia and Ukraine, climate problems, insecurity, etc.,” explained Riera, who recalled that Banabio started working in 2008 in Machala, in the province of El Oro.

However, organic production has challenges this year. Riera recognized that in the case of Banabia weekly, the demand of his clients varies by season, which on an annual average allows them to compensate and maintain their business without economic losses.

The company currently exports the organic banana production of nine associations of small producers and 34 independent producers, between medium and large. This means about 1,500 productive hectares, located in El Oro, Guayas and Santa Elena.

Irrigation, certification and tax incentives, among the challenges for Santa Elena to be the first organic province in the country

This last province collected 3,361.53 ha of organic bananas by 2021, which represented 16% of the area of ​​this type of banana planted in the country, which was 20,942 ha, which is 11% of the total area of ​​bananas in Ecuador (190,381 ha). However, according to updated figures from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), until today, hectares of organic bananas across the country have increased to 22,616.

In addition to those in Guayas, El Oro and Santa Elena, there are also organic banana plantations in Los Ríos, Manabi, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Azuay, Esmeraldas, Cotopaxi, Cañaro and Pichincha.

Regarding producers, the Agency for Phytosanitary Regulation and Control (Agrocalidad) reported that there are 1,256 organic banana producers in Ecuador, of which 476 are individual producers and 780 are part of producer groups and associations. In addition, of the 14,434 ha that are in transition from traditional to organic agriculture, 4,697 are bananas, according to the entity’s data.

The agency clarified that certification bodies accredited by the Ecuadorian SAE Accreditation Service, of which there are currently 6, are responsible for the certification of organic production:

Meanwhile, the sector’s expectations are rising at the rate that their destination markets demand more fruit. Salazar projected that this year, organic banana exports will close with growth similar to that expected for fruits in general, up 5%, although it all depends on the impact that the El Niño phenomenon could have.

Riera has the same concern, fearing that there could be a gap between that demand and the supply of organic bananas in the country, as he assured that plantations had to recover from a season of intense cold and rains associated with El Niño are forecast.

“All of us who are dedicated to this work invest efforts in the maintenance of agricultural areas in order to reduce this impact and continue to market our products, thus ensuring the quality and quantities required by our customers and the well-being of our strategic partners, suppliers and workers,” said the general director of Banabia.