Sun Meijun, Minister of China's General Administration of Customs, and Vladimir Cuno, Minister of Agricultural Development and Irrigation of Peru, have announced the signing of phytosanitary protocols for the export of fresh bananas and pomegranates to the People's Republic of China. Minister Cuno and Minister Sun led the signing ceremony.

Starting January 1, 2026, the European Union will implement the "European Green Deal," a series of technical initiatives and standards aimed at counteracting the effects of climate change until 2050. This initiative presents a significant opportunity for our agricultural producers to cultivate tropical fruits that are highly valued in Europe and the United States.

In week 46, banana selling prices in St. Petersburg ranged from USD 20.00 to USD 21.35 per box, CIF, depending on brand, volume and packing. The market has not improved due to weak demand for the fruit. Approximately 1.58 million boxes were discharged, and nearly 1.67 million boxes are expected in the incoming week. The exchange rate for the US dollar was 80.60 RUB. Prices for Ecuadorian bananas in the Mediterranean ranged from approximately $15.00 to $16.00 per box, CIF. Pricing depended on factors such as brand, volume, packaging, and region. In Libya, both Ecuadorian and Central American bananas were selling for around $18.00 per box, CIF.

Shipping giant A.P. Moller-Maersk reported solid financial results for the third quarter of 2025, despite experiencing decreased profitability due to ongoing pressure on ocean freight rates. Revenue for the third quarter fell by 9.9% year-on-year to $14.2 billion, with EBITDA dropping to $2.7 billion from $4.8 billion. The revenue decline was mainly attributed to the Ocean segment, which saw an 18% drop in revenue due to a 31% decline in loaded freight rates.

Colombian producers are set to export cocoa, coffee, and bananas to China following agreements established in Shanghai. China is expected to begin importing 80,000 tons of coffee, 15,000 tons of bananas, and 10,000 tons of cocoa annually. These figures are anticipated to solidify thanks to partnerships formed after Colombia joined the Belt and Road Initiative, China's global trade and infrastructure strategy.

Fyffes has been commended for its ongoing contribution to environmental sustainability at the prestigious FPC Fresh Awards gala ceremony held in London recently. The global banana and fruit producer was honoured with the ‘Ethical Sustainability Excellence’ 2025 award, on foot of what adjudicators termed ‘Fyffes respect for people, communities and planet’. “The organisation sets a shining example of how multi-national businesses can engage collective efforts to grow produce responsibly, and enrich people’s lives for a fairer, resilient future,” they added.

Banana production in Ecuador has slowed for the third consecutive month due to cold weather and declining yields. According to the Ecuadorian Banana Exporters Association (AEBE), after a 5.89% increase in shipments in May, growth fell to 5.47% in June, 4.95% in July, and 4.26% in August. Despite remaining positive overall in 2025, Ecuador's banana exports are showing signs of deceleration.

In August 2025, Cameroon experienced a significant decline in banana exports. According to the Cameroon Banana Association (Assobacam), the country exported 14,639 tons of bananas that month, a decrease of 1,798 tons (10.9%) compared to the 16,437 tons exported in July. This downturn impacted all major players in the banana industry.

In week 40, banana selling prices in St. Petersburg ranged from USD 21.12 to USD 22.35 per box CIF, depending on the brand, volume, and packing. During the week approximately 1.28 million boxes were unloaded, and around 2.05 million boxes are expected to be unloaded for the upcoming week. The exchange rate for the USD was 81.01 RUB. In the Mediterranean, the price of Ecuadorian bananas ranged from USD 19.50 to USD 20.50 per box, CIF. In Northern Africa, prices peaked at USD 23.00 per box, CIF. In contrast, bananas from Central America were selling for approximately USD 21.00 per box, CIF.

The Cameroonian government has successfully settled a salary debt totaling 35.75 billion CFA francs owed to employees of the Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC) with the support of Société Générale, CCA-Bank, and AFG-Bank. Finance Minister Louis Paul Motaze announced that this payment was completed on September 18, 2025.

On September 24, the PremioeXpor 2025 awards ceremony was held, organized by the Ecuadorian Federation of Exporters (Fedexpor). During the gala, the excellence and innovation of exporting companies in bringing their products and services to international markets was recognized, as well as the development generated in the country through their social and environmental responsibility actions.

Pakistan's banana harvest has achieved a remarkable milestone, more than doubling over the past 15 years to reach a record 317,000 tonnes in the 2024-25 fiscal year, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). Official data from Wealth Pakistan reveals that banana production was only 139,000 tonnes in the 2010-11 fiscal year. However, steady growth—especially in the last five years—has made bananas Pakistan's fastest-growing crop.

Sri Lanka has launched a new state-of-the-art banana tissue culture laboratory in the North Central Province, with technical assistance from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) under the South-South Cooperation (SSC) Programme with China. Located at the In-Service Training Institute of the North Central Provincial Agriculture Department in Maha Illuppallama, the facility aims to supply high-quality, tissue-cultured banana planting materials to farmers in the North Central, Northern, and Northwestern Provinces. Previously, farmers in these regions depended on supplies from the southern part of the country, which were both costly and prone to damage during transport.

Ecuadorian plantain exports are currently in crisis, experiencing a significant decline in international markets. From January to July 2025, the country exported 6.74 million boxes of fresh plantains, representing a 5.28% decrease compared to the same period in 2024. This decline has accelerated from a 2.82% drop in June. Recent data from Indexbox indicates that Ecuador is facing ongoing production and quality challenges, leading to a shift in rankings among exporters.

Ecuador has introduced an innovative solution to combat Black Sigatoka, a persistent challenge affecting one of its main export products: bananas. This disease significantly impacts the quality of the fruit and the profitability of producers. BASF, a company dedicated to agricultural innovation and sustainability, has developed a new solution that combines effective pest control with a lower environmental impact, marking a significant advancement in the responsible management of this vital crop.