Banana sales to Europe fell 11% until February

Ecuadornews:

Guilds of exporters ensure that state policies are required to guarantee commercial activity. The winter season was one of the causes of the reduction. As of February 2019, banana exports to the European Union (EU) were reduced by 11.5%, compared to the same period in 2018, according to information provided by the Commercial Intelligence System (SICOM) of the Ministry of Foreign Trade.  

The decline is not alien to the Banana Marketing and Export Association (Acrobanet), which published this April 8 the evolution of Ecuadorian exports of this product, between the months of January and February.

According to the report, 21,653,668 boxes were sent to the countries of the European Union in 2018, while in 2019 they were 18,726,845. The president of the Regional Banana Corporation (Agroban), Gustavo Marún, said that one of the reasons is that there are no State policies that look at the banana sector as one of the most important in the country. He assured that Ecuador is becoming more expensive every day and has become a provider of last resort.

“The more supply grows in Central America, the less necessary Ecuador will be as a supplier of fruit.” “We are losing space in the market, especially in Europe,” he added. However, Eduardo Ledesma, president of the Association of Banana Exporters of Ecuador (AEBE), considers that the total exports of 2018 and 2019 have not changed. “80 million boxes have been sent, at week 12”, although growth was estimated. On the reduction to the EU said that it is due to the winter season, as there are hectares affected, but also others that are producing to the maximum. He added that the sector grows 5% every year, but that percentage could increase more if it did not have so many obstacles.

He pointed to the Banana Law that is processed in the National Assembly. Ledesma believes that this legislation must be filed. “A new one (law) must be managed that protects the small producer and establishes a referential price, guarantees and the same sanction if the exporter does not comply. Banana Summit More than 60 exhibitors participate in the World Banana Summit in Guayaquil, which aims to “generate business opportunities and promote productivity with the conferences presented,” said Ricardo Baquerizo, president of Expoplaza.

The event that ends today, Thursday, April 11, had a technical congress and in it scientists focused on the field of sustainable agriculture shared their knowledge with the assistants. This year banana and other musacea production issues were incorporated. Danilo Subía, delegate of the Minister of Production, Foreign Trade, Investment and Productivity, said that in general terms in this first quarter exports have grown.

“Last year we closed with 350 million boxes exported, above $ 3,000 million, an interesting figure,” he said. He also compared the situation with countries such as Costa Rica and the Philippines, which stopped producing. “That undersupply market must be used by Ecuador to produce more.” Byron Flores, assistant minister of Agriculture, stressed that other industries revolve around the sector. “We have to work with small producers so that they can access training, information and technologies,” he added.

Production expansion

Countries in the region expand their banana production. Colombia is replacing African palm plantations with this fruit, while Guatemala is replacing it with sugarcane. Mexico is entering Russia with force. 60 exhibitors of products and services participated in the 2019 World Banana Summit.

IX edition of the Summit

Over the course of this event have gathered more than 40 thousand producers and exporters. (I)

Source: https://www.eltelegrafo.com.ec/noticias/economia/4/ventas-banano-europa-baja