Banana exports grew 4.57% in the first quarter driven by shipments to the EU and Russia, but there were markets where participation fell | Economy | News

Banana exports closed the first quarter of 2023 with favorable numbers, thus continuing the upward trend at the beginning of the year and with a more favorable scenario than in 2022 in the same period for the fruit, according to the figures shared by the last. A report from the Banana Marketing and Export Association (Accorpbank).

The cumulative exports from January to March amounted to 99.86 million boxes, 4.57% higher than what was exported in the same period of 2022.

Bananas in January benefited from the weather and higher demand in destinations due to the cold season as exports increased by 5.41%.

Richard Salazar, CEO of Acorbanec, stated that a similar increase is also expected in the second quarter of the year and one of the reasons is that there is more fruit than the previous year – despite the bad weather – and higher demand in different destination markets.

“Despite the fact that the rains affected many farms, they have been rehabilitated and/or better phytosanitary maintenance has been provided, which has led to higher production. This coincides with an increase in demand in Europe, the United States, Algeria, the United Kingdom and other countries.”

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The main destination for the 99.86 million boxes was the European Union (EU), with 31.88% of production going. It is followed by Russia to which 23.53% of the fruit was sent, while the third destination is the Middle East where 12.54% was exported, followed by the United States with 10.26%.

The other markets, in order of their order, where the fruit was sent are:

• Southern Cone: 6.22%
• Africa: 4.53%
• East Asia: 4.31%
• Central Asia: 2.76%
• Eastern Europe: 1.44%.
• United Kingdom: 1.28%.
• Oceania (New Zealand): 0.80%.
• European Free Trade Association (Norway): 0.37%.
• Canada: 0.01%.
• Other markets: 0.01%.

Salazar also points out that in terms of the amount of fruit exported, Russia is the country where most exports went with a participation of 23.53%, followed in order by the United States with a share of 10.98%. the Netherlands (7.93%); Turkish (4.60%); and Germany 4.76%. It was recalled that the European Union is a bloc of 27 countries.

The Union also details the main increases in exports in:

• European Union: 25.15%.
• Russia: 10.62%.
• United States: 10.98%.
• United Kingdom: 30.64%.
• Southern Cone: 1.24%.
• Africa: 2.13%.
• Central Asia: 13.23%.
• Oceania: 9.02%.

However, there were also declines in other markets such as the Middle East by -19.53%, East Asia (-14.65%), EFTA-Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland, and Switzerland- (-12.49%), and Canada (-26.92%). ) and Eastern Europe by -61.84%, due to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. (YO)