In W28 in the banana landscape, the banana growers' association of Magdalena, La Guajira, and Cesar, Colombia (Asbama) revealed that the three regions on the Caribbean coast accounted for 50% of the country’s banana exports from January to May. However, due to a combination of floods, storms, and ongoing construction of new plots, Colombian banana exports experienced an 11% decline compared to the same period in 2022. The Colombian Caribbean region, which received 351.63 thousand tons out of the total 701.43 thousand tons of Colombian banana exports in the first five months of 2023, managed to limit the decline to 6% compared to the same period in 2022. Despite the decrease, a growth trend is anticipated for the second half of 2023, driven by efforts to explore new markets and enhance productivity. Challenges in the industry include preventing and controlling the FRT4 fungus, as well as ensuring cargo security to deter criminal activities. The United States (US), Belgium, the United Kingdom (UK), and Germany are the main destinations for Colombian bananas.
In the UK wholesale markets of Birmingham and London, bananas from Belize stood at USD 0.89/kg (GPD 0.68/kg). Colombian bananas are priced at USD 1.23/kg (GDP 0.94/kg). Bananas from Costa Rica stood at USD 1.33/kg (GDP 1.02/kg), while bananas from Guatemala were priced at USD 1.32/kg (GDP 1.01/kg), experiencing a 4% decrease compared to W27. Lastly, Saint Lucia has established a task force within the Ministry of Agriculture to protect its banana industry from the Tropical Race 4 (TR4) disease, also known as Fusarium wilt. While the fungus has not been detected locally or in neighboring regions, authorities are taking proactive measures to prevent its entry.
