In 2012, the financial crisis and weather problems contracted any possibility of expansion in shipments of fruit. According to calculations by the Banana Industry Association of Ecuador (Asisbane), banana shipments will fall by 40 million cases due to the financial crisis of buyer countries, low productivity in plantations and climate conditions in consumer countries.
But Ecuador managed to recover from that situation. However, three decades after the low productivity and lack of trade agreements threaten this dynamic commercial business situation, in which Ecuador is still the leader as the largest exporter of bananas.
Historically, Ecuador has been the largest banana exporter to the European Union (EU). However, in the last five years this seat has been shared with Colombia by a minimum difference.
According to statistics from Trade Map (a world trade virtual tool), Ecuador had 19% market share of the EU made up of 27 countries in 2008, when Colombia had 19.20%.
A year after, the difference was 19.10% to 19.14% in favour of the northern neighbour. Subsequently, the leadership fell to Ecuador. Last year, the country sold USD 1.221 million to the block, of which USD 6.223 million is purchased from the
rest of the world. That is, 20% of that pie. At that time, Colombia had 19%.
Source: ElComercio.com