Ecuador: Banana exports drop 6.87% in January

The report on accumulated exports of banana boxes corresponding to the month of January was 33.54 million boxes of bananas. In 2023, exports were 36.02 million boxes of bananas, which represented a decrease of 6.87%, that is, 2.47 million fewer boxes of bananas were exported for the period. In this context, we spoke with the executive director of the Banana Marketing and Export Association (ACORBANEC), Richard Salazar Veloz, who commented that the decline in exports is due to several factors. "In my opinion, the most important thing is that you cover them, to protect the fruit from pests, in week 41, which was harvested in week 1 of 2004, the covers were between 37 and 39 acorns per hectare, that is, very much below the previous averages of 42”. Salazar added that lower production was projected in January, “but in February we already see greater sheathing.” Of the 33.54 million boxes of bananas exported in 2024, the main market was the European Union, covering 29.81% of the share ...