Guatemala overtakes Philippines as second largest banana exporter

Guatemala last year displaced the Philippines as the world's second largest exporter of bananas, ending the four-year reign of the Asian country, which has struggled to maintain its share in key markets amid stiffer competition from Latin American growers. According to recent data from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, Guatemala exported a total of 2.467 million tons of bananas last year, more than the Philippines' 2.235 million tons. The FAO stated that banana production in the Philippines continued to decline as growers struggled to tackle and contain the devastating spread of the Banana Fusarium Wilt Tropical Race 4 (TR4) disease. In addition, the FAO pointed out that Philippine banana growers suffered a double blow as they also suffered "high costs for crops and fertilizers" last year. "Based on the available ...