Despite Argentina’s trade barriers, banana exports are clearly growing.
According to a report by the Investment and Exports Web (Rediex) of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, banana exports between January and June amounted to $2.4 million dollars, 60% more tan in the same period of 2013 when they amounted to $1.5 million dollars.
The volume of bananas shipped in the first half of 2014 increased as it amounted to 8,912 tons while, last year, it amounted to 6,266 tons.
Cesar Meden, manager of the Fruits and Vegetables Sector Roundtable, stressed that the increase in exports was due to the rise in the price of the product in the Argentine market and, in part, to the reduction in imports due to the neighbouring country’s tighter controls on the entry of goods.
The domestic industry is going through a good moment, as the rains have been beneficial to the agricultural sector so far. However, we have to wait to see if there will be any frosts that could cause damages, said the official.
Meanwhile, Hugo Franco, director and owner of Agro San José Obrero, said the Bolivian production had been affected by floods which have decreased the level of exports, which, in turn, had benefited local producers.
He noted that, besides Argentina, Uruguay was an interesting market for Paraguayan producers, despite the fact that they still were missing some adjustments to suit the Uruguayan requirements. Similarly, he added that they had exported about 600,000 boxes of bananas to that market last year and that they estimated they would send 1,000,000 boxes to it this year.
Moreover, Franco said domestic sales had dropped by 40%. "We're selling a lot less than in previous years. We’ve spoken with some colleagues who are engaged in other areas and they are also experiencing a drop in sales," he said.
The largest banana production is concentrated in Tembiaporã, Caaguazú and Guayaibí, San Pedro. According to Franco, Tembiaporã has 4,000 hectares in production, while Caaguazú and Guayaibí have 500 acres.
Source: entornointeligente.com