Banana exports amounted to 40.2 million dollars in January, 6.3 million less than in January 2017 as a result of the fall in volume due to the strike in one of the companies, according to the Central Bank of Honduras (BCH).
Nearly 2 thousand workers from eight banana farms of the Chiquita company, in the sector of Lima, Cortes, went on a strike to protest the change of local medical care.
The protests interrupted the fertilization, pest control, and irrigation processes. In January most of the bananas were exported to the United States.
In January, international sales related to agriculture amounted to 75.4 million dollars in foreign currency, i.e. 2.6 million less than in January of last year.
As in previous years, banana exports stood out. By the end of 2018, the goal is to surpass the 522.7 million dollars achieved by this fruit in 2017.
Melon and watermelon exports also stood out, as they increased by 8.1 percent ($ 1.2 million) and amounted to 15.7 million dollars. This increase is associated with a rise in volume (4.2%) and prices (3.7%) with destinations to the United States and the Netherlands. Last year, the country's revenues from melon and watermelon exports amounted to 71.4 million dollars.
Vegetable and legume exports also stood out with 10.1 million dollars, 0.7 million more than in January 2017.
The United States and the United Kingdom are two of the main destinations for these products. Last year, Honduran vegetable exports, which are especially demanded by the United States, El Salvador, and the United Kingdom, amounted to 94.3 million dollars, according to data from the Central Bank of Honduras.
Source: latribuna.hn