The Price of Cavendish Bananas in the UAE Market Is Fluctuating Due to Shipping Line Issues

Bananas from Ecuador, the Philippines, and India did not perform well across the UAE market due to sudden price fluctuations and shipping line problems that left buyers in uncertainty. In W42, the Ecuador origin banana price stood at USD 16.33/13kg, the Philippines origin stood at USD 14.70/13kg, and the Indian origin stood at USD 7.35/13kg. As per previous trends, it is normal to have low banana prices in the summer, after which the trend shifts to a stable price until the winter, when merchants cover their losses and turn to profitability. However, in 2022, the situation was aggravated by the unreliable shipping line service, in which temporary spikes in banana prices caused by late arrivals were then driven down by overlapping shipments. As a result, Indian banana prices have reached an unbelievable low level. Exporters should therefore reconsider the strategy.