How is the international Logistics for Guatemalan Banana Exports?

The major points of entry of banana imports in Europe are Germany (Hamburg and Bremerhaven), Belgium (Antwerp) and the UK (Portsmouth), followed by, to a lesser extent, Italy (Salerno and Vado), France (Le Havre and Marseille), and the Netherlands (Rotterdam).

- From there, bananas are re-exported to the other European countries.

On the European and Mediterranean markets, customers (retailers, ripening operators and wholesalers) employ annual or multi-annual arrangements with flexible prices depending on the market conditions. Bananas are sold on a non-official weekly price listing, which frequently varies with the supply, seasonal consumption trends, transport cost, exchange rate and other factors.

 - The banana import markets in Northern European countries (e.g. in Belgium, Finland, Sweden, Denmark or Ireland) tend to be more concentrated around a few importers (usually 5 to 6) who  sell directly to retailers.

 - In Eastern and Southern Europe (e.g. in Italy and Poland), the market is more fragmented (between 8 and 12 leading actors) and banana importers mainly sell their bananas to wholesalers, who in turn distribute these volumes to retailers or outlets in the traditional retail channels (green groceries…)

 - France tends to have market that is somewhat an intermediate of the two above

Certain European operators, like Germany and the UK are starting to be supplied with bananas under a fixed price per box contract. These contracts generally include prices which are higher in the first half and lower in the second half, in accordance with the seasonal supply and demand trends - Long-term contracts are signed with the distribution sector

 - Germany sets up year long contracts at the beginning of the year for fixed price

 - The UK market is quite distinct because of the direct sourcing initiated by several supermarkets

           Buyers of fruit in the UK want unbruised bananas and so very high standards are set. (If the bananas do not meet these standards they are usually sold locally at a much lower price.)

In North America, 90% of banana volumes are sold under contract; the others are sold on the free market.

- These annual contracts have a fixed basic price per box, and also include variable surcharges based on fuel indexes, which are intended to offset changes in transport costs and other fuel-based costs.

*major importers in North America