Philippines: Gloomy forecast for bananas
In 2014, banana production in Davao increased by 6.4 percent, to 3.36 million metric tons (MT) from the 3.16 million MT in 2013.
The biggest banana exports are fresh or dried bananas, including plantains, with total value of $1.05 billion, a 20.2 percent increase from $877.05 million in 2013. The volume of banana exported also increased by 147 percent to 7.64 million MT from 3.09 million MT.
The top export market for banana is Japan with $378.08 million, followed by China ($237.13 million), South Korea ($115.37 million), New Zealand ($77.94 million), and Iran ($51.8 million).
However, Stephen Antig, Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) executive director, said that they expect 2015 to be a tough year for the banana industry.
"It seems that the industry is in for another difficult year because aside from the dry spell, which is something you cannot control, there are also man-made calamities," he said.
Antig said El Nino, which is expected to subside by the middle of this year, could affect 20 percent of the banana production.
He said the big players are in good shape since many of them are prepared and have irrigation facilities. It will be the small players who have no irrigation facilities or not near water sources that will suffer the most.
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