Ecuadorian banana companies, previously sanctioned by the Russian Government due to the alleged presence of the humpback fly in banana containers, are now exporting their products to the Middle East and Central Asia. This shift comes after Russia suspended five Ecuadorian exporters, a first in 25 years of trade between the two nations. Despite this, the director of the Banana Marketing and Export Association (Acorbanec) emphasized that no market can fully replace Russia, which was a major importer of Ecuadorian bananas. The sanction occurred amidst political tensions between the two countries, following Ecuador's decision to send Russian weapons to the United States as 'scrap'.