The country's leading banana traders increased exports last year by 38.4 million dollars over 2016, according to the data that will be presented on Tuesday of next week at the annual Assembly of members of Colombia's Banana Producers Association (Augura).
The president of the association, Juan Camilo Restrepo Gomez, said that banana shipments to international markets amounted to 850 million dollars, i.e. 4.7% more than the 811.6 million achieved in 2016.
The volume exported increased by 4.9%, as it went from 93.4 million boxes in 2016 to 98 million in 2017. The figures are in line with the records of the National Administrative Department of Statistics (Dane), which state that in 2017 the country exported 1.87 million tons for 849.07 million dollars.
The main destinations for the Colombian bananas were Belgium, with 36 million boxes, the United Kingdom, with 15 million boxes, and the United States with 13 million boxes.
Restrepo also said that there had been an increase in the extension of crops and productivity in Uraba and in the departments of Magdalena and La Guajira.
In 2016 there were 47,272 hectares planted with bananas. Last year there were 49,307 hectares, that is, 4.3% more. Additionally, each hectare produced 2,264 boxes of fruit, more than the 2,044 boxes harvested per hectare in 2016.
However, the leader said, the 10.7% increase in productivity is still insufficient to compete in international markets with other banana producers in Ecuador and in Central American countries that produce 2,900 to 3,000 boxes per hectare.
Source: elcolombiano.com