In search of new markets for bananas, China tops the list of potential destinations, followed by Turkey, Korea and Japan. The current scenario is seems to benefit Ecuador, as discussed in the context of the IX Banana Forum and I Congress of Biotechnology and Biodiversity, held in Guayaquil. It is important to point out that the Philippines, world's fruit provider for the "Asian giant" was vetoed by its neighbor, who imposed trade barriers after the conflict on April 8th.
That day the Philippine Army arrested eight Chinese fishing boats near the islands of Scarborough Shoalque, which are in dispute. Others take advantage of that opportunity. Dole, a multinational fruit marketer, set this month banana shipments from Ecuador to China, as published in the portal Reefer Trends. Moreover, the relationship between the Governments of Ecuador and China, as well as with Turkey, opens the possibility of improving trade conditions.
The problem according to Fabricio Espinoza, of the Probana Group, is that there are high tariffs to reach those new markets. "We must create marketing agreements that benefit exports. Turkey has one of the highest tariffs," he said. The bananas that enter that country pay 100% tariff and China only 10%. Espinoza added that we must not neglect traditional markets like Europe. Evaristo Baque, chairman of the House of Agriculture of the II Zone, believes that Ecuador can solve the banana shortage problem that China has, but you have to offer the fruit. "We sell it because exporters come here, but we never go out to offer it," questioned Baque.
Adrian Rodriguez from the Agricultural Unit of the Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLAC), said that Latin American countries project to grow 5% in banana production. Part of this volume could well be devoted to China, a nation which was suggested to come by groups of countries, to ensure volume.
Source: ElComercio.com