In eight months, banana exports increased by 7.17%, with Russia as the first country receiving the fruit and the EU as the first bloc

Banana exports continue to grow. According to the latest export data published by the Association of Banana Sellers and Exporters of Ecuador (Acorbanec), accumulated shipments from January to August were 247.96 million boxes, 7.17% more than what was exported in the same period in 2022 and also more than the growth shown by the sector in the figures from January to July (+6.99%).

This growth is reflected in the shipment of 16.5 million more boxes of bananas to various fruit destinations, but this good development still does not cover the 22.9 million fewer boxes that the country stopped exporting from January to August 2022 compared to the same period. in 2021

Bananas started the second half of 2023 on the right foot, but exports still do not cover autumn 2022.

Meanwhile, when analyzing the main fruit destinations, with regard to blocs, the European Union remains first with 29.89% of the total fruit exports from Ecuador in these eight months. Meanwhile, with 20.72%, Russia emerges as the second best destination. At 14.87%, the Middle East was the third largest destination, followed by the United States in fourth place at 9.39%, a slight slowdown compared to January-July figures when the country accounted for 9.55% of fruit exports .

However, if banana exports are analyzed by country, Russia is the country to which most bananas are destined with a share of 20.72%; second, the United States (9.39%); in third place is the Netherlands with 7.27%; in fourth place is Turkey with 5.33%; and in fifth place is China with 4.34%.

Meanwhile, when analyzing exports in the same period in 2022, the Union highlighted the main increases such as those of the European Union with 22.41%, Russia with 5.60%, the United States with 4.99%, the United Kingdom with 19.72 %, Africa with 21.06%, East Asia with 15.26%, Central Asia with 4.07%, Oceania with 18.14%, Southern Cone with 1.97%.

But reductions are also evident: in the Middle East with -8.38%; Eastern Europe with -46.94%, especially due to the drastic reduction of exports to Ukraine due to the conflict with Russia; EFTA with -13.25% and Canada with -81.90%.

Exporters: 55% of the destination markets for Ecuadorian bananas are ‘spot’, the market eventually imposes itself

Of the 247.96 million boxes of bananas exported from January to August 2023, the main export brand was Dole with a share of 12.62%; in second place with 5.12% is the Global Village brand; in third place with 4.44% is the Bonita brand; In fourth place is the brand Favorita with 4.15%. In fifth place with a 3.70% share is the Chiquita brand; In sixth place with a 2.91% share is the Del Monte brand; In seventh place with 2.90% is the Extraban brand; In eighth place is the Goodfarmer brand with 2.81% participation; In ninth place follows the Frutadeli brand with 2.55%; and in tenth place the Yellow brand with 2.14%.