“European buyers turning to Ecuador again for more bananas”
The warmer and drier weather in many of the South American countries where bananas are grown has led to lower export volumes. Jorge Alex Serrano, from the exporter Jasafrut based in El Guabo, El Oro in Ecuador, says: “As a result buyers are again turning to Ecuador to secure more banana volumes. The better prices that we are receiving now are due to many reasons, but mainly because there is a lack of fruit in all of Latin America.”
This year has been hotter, with the higher temperatures affecting the banana trees negatively leading to lower volumes in Ecuador as well as Central America and Colombia. “Some European importers are coming back to Ecuador because there is a lack of production in Central America and Colombia. This is good for us. The official price increased by $0,40 per box for next year and this will help growers,” states Serrano.
Banana trees in Ecuador are also affected with the yield of the trees impacted. “In normal years, we can get 1.5 boxes per each bunch of bananas, but now we are getting only 0.9 boxes per each bunch. This is because the temperature has been so intense that the plantations were stressed. This is not related to the internal practice in social aspects,” explains Serrano.
To read the full article, please visit “European buyers turning to Ecuador again for more bananas”. Published on November 28, 2024.