The Ecuadorian banana industry recovered in the first half of the year as exports to Europe until June increased by 17.89%, which could set a new record for the sector.
Exports to Eastern Europe, the North Sea and the Baltic increased by 70.26% and 51.73%. According to the Association of Banana Exporters of Ecuador (AEBE), exports increased by an additional 16.9 million boxes.
Even though the East bought almost twice as much as last year, these purchases were still low: 4.4 million boxes. Sales to the Southern Cone, the United States and Russia were also good. Sales to the Mediterranean, the Middle East and Africa decreased.
Eduardo Ledesma, president of AEBE, that is getting ready to host the XI International Forum of Bananas between October 13 and 16 in Guayaquil, said the outlook is good. "We are selling at extraordinary prices, something that had never happened at this time of the year."
However, Ecuador still needs to improve its productivity and lower costs, because Colombia's drop in production is what has caused domestic prices to increase; and that is temporary.
"Colombia stopped selling 250,000 boxes, so now they are paying $10 and $11 for a box in Ecuador, not because the price has improved, but because they have to complete their shipments, and that's just temporary: about 8 months. After that, they will increase their sales because they are replanting after the winds and hurricane seasons," Ledesma said.
The other challenges of the banana industry are to control the black sigatoka fungus and prevent the arrival of the 4th strand of the Panama disease, a topic that will be discussed at the next international forum.
"We will invite an Australian technician, because that country eradicated the black sigatoka, and we want to know if we can apply that technology here." Additionally, the sector wants to establish a protocol to prevent the entry of the Fusarium, the new Panama disease.
Source: Expreso