Exporters assure that there was an agreement to leave the price at $ 6.25, producers reject that version.
Until the afternoon of this Friday there was confusion between producers and exporters of bananas to know the new minimum support price of the fruit that will govern for 2022. This, after a negotiation table that lasted around three hours, in which at first instance, it was indicated that there was no consensus between the parties.
The table was held at the Undersecretary of Musáceas Strengthening in the Zonal Government, in Guayaquil.
Producers and exporters without agreement for the banana box. Price must be set by MAG in 7 days
In the afternoon, the export sector assured that at the end of the day it was finally possible to reach an agreement so that the price of the fruit remains at $ 6.25, which is currently in force.
Keeping the price at $ 6.25 was the proposal of the export sector with the argument of not losing competitiveness in international markets.
Richard Salazar, CEO of Acorbanec, had said that there is pressure from supermarkets to pay less in international markets for the fruit.
“Since 2015 it was at almost 14.50 euros, now they are paying 11.20 euros for the box, that is the reality, it is the trend,” said Salazar, who pointed out that no matter how much good will they may have, they must of some or another way to adapt to the market, which is what Ecuador has done.
In the afternoon, Salazar said that the agreement denotes the maturity of the banana sector in Ecuador, thinking about the competitiveness of the sector.
“Now that we are facing the market power of the European supermarkets, pretending to pay less price for the fruit, that is why the next week we will have a meeting of the Latin American banana unions to demand the payment of the fair price of the fruit in that shared responsibility ”, he indicated.
Banana producers propose a minimum price to support the fruit of $ 7.50
However, from the producer sector, whose proposal was that the price of the box escalate to $ 7.50, it was indicated that no agreement had been signed for the price to remain at $ 6.25.
Franklin Torres, president of the National Federation of Banana Producers of Ecuador (Fenabe), assured EL UNIVERSO newspaper that the delegate of the sector, William Ramón, did not sign any document so that the current price is maintained.
“There is an error in the writing of the minutes. I stayed at $ 7.19 and the export sector at $ 6.25. There is no agreement and the minister (of Agriculture and Livestock) must define what the price is for 2022 ″, said Ramón, according to a text message that Torres showed. (I)
Paul is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment and general news. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established herself as a respected voice in the industry.
