The blocked route of Ecuadorian bananas to Ukraine

The European Banana production regions, which are vital for the export of Bananas such as the regions of Martinique, Guadeloupe, the Canary Islands, and Madeira, are facing difficulties with a number of different factors. The production costs are on the rise. Banana prices in the European market dropped significantly between 2015 and 2021.

The main risk today for the European Banana production business resulting from the conflict between Russia and Ukraine is the detour taken by commercial cargo operators to the European market. A substantial part of these volumes which amounts to 1.8 million MT, particularly of dollar bananas traded in Russia and Ukraine are being diverted. Therefore, the port of entry of Ecuadorian bananas to Ukraine, located in the port of Odessa, is no longer functioning and exports to this country are blocked.

Prices on the Romanian market, to which some deliveries have already been diverted, have fallen substantially on 28 February. The European sectors ask their governments and the European institutions to be ready to consider all measures if such consequences occur to avoid the disappearance of the European Banana production/import business.