Shanghai International Port (Group) Co Ltd said that the Gemini Cooperation officially launched its operation at the port on February 10 with the lifting of the first container. According to Hapag-Lloyd's official website, the Gemini Cooperation, a benchmark collaboration between Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, was announced last year to start operating in February.

According to DHL Global Forwarding's latest Ocean Reefer Market Update, demand for fresh produce, pharmaceuticals, and frozen goods is driving the market despite regional slowdowns and disruptions from diversions around the Cape of Good Hope. Ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Red Sea region make operations more complex than usual. This leads to disruptions in shipping between Asia and Europe, which adds costs and delays. Storms and droughts have also affected crop yields and export timelines for perishable goods.

In week 07, banana prices in St Petersburg were around USD 24.90 per box CIF, with peaks up to USD 26.00 per box CIF, boosted by good demand. Nearly 1.720 million boxes were discharged, and around 1.920 million are expected for week 08. The exchange rate was 1 USD=91.03 RUB. Ecuadorian bananas in the Mediterranean commanded prices between USD 18.00 and USD 20.00 per box CIF, varying based on brand, volume, region, and packaging. In Libya, these bananas were sold at a price of around USD 17.00 per box CIF. Central American bananas, on the other hand, were priced lower at approximately USD 16.00 per box CIF. The situation in Algeria is starkly different, where prices have soared to USD 26.00 per box CIF due to significantly reduced import volumes caused by the ban on Ecuadorian bananas. The prices for re-exported Ecuadorian bananas in the Mersin Free Zone ranged from USD 19.00 to USD 21.00 per box, depending on the brand, weight, packaging, and volume. These prices have increased compared to the previous week, mainly due to lower banana availability and rising demand, particularly from Syria and the Turkish domestic market. In contrast, Central American bananas cost around USD 16.00 per box. The exchange rate was 1 USD=36.20 TL.

Colombia's fresh fruit exports have excellent growth potential but face challenges related to logistics, sanitary regulations, and access to international markets. Strengthening product quality and diversifying export destinations are essential to boosting the sector. According to Valora Analitik, Colombia has made progress in opening markets for products such as Hass avocados, bananas, and mangoes, but barriers still limit its competitiveness. The main challenges include high logistical costs, lack of infrastructure, and the phytosanitary requirements of some importing countries.

At the Fruit Logistica fair in Germany, Asbama, representing banana growers in Magdalena, Cesar, and La Guajira, reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable sector development. Asbama's executive president, José Francisco Zúñiga, met with Colombia's ambassador to Germany, Yadir Salazar, to discuss key issues such as safety, logistics, pricing, and sustainability.

Givaudan has partnered with Dole Asia to produce Green Banana Powder, a natural texturizing ingredient from upcycled bananas. This ingredient, created by Dole Specialty Ingredients (DSI), enhances Givaudan's Sense Texture range of clean-label emulsifiers and texturizers. Green Banana Powder offers natural texture, viscosity, and water/oil-holding properties, substituting modified starches, gums, and pectin in soups, sauces, baked goods, and snacks. It also adds fibre and nutritional value.

At this year's Fruit Logistica trade fair in Berlin, Fyffes focused on its credo of sustainable growth, growing the category together with the retail partners, growing the product range with innovative, consumer-tested concepts, and strengthening partnerships with communities and suppliers. With a strong commitment to sustainability, Fyffes continues to enable more people to access healthy foods while working closely with partners to reduce food waste.

Chiquita has been awarded the Suitable Innovation Award as part of the 2025 SEAL Business Sustainability Awards for its Yelloway One disease-resistant banana prototype. This recognition highlights Chiquita's commitment to sustainability and innovative solutions in agriculture. Yelloway One is the first hybrid banana prototype resistant to significant diseases like Fusarium wilt and black leaf streak disease, which threaten global banana production and cost the industry hundreds of millions annually.

DOLE will announce its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2024 on February 26, 2025 prior to the market opening. The company's management will host a webcast and conference call on the same day at 08:00 a.m. Eastern Time. A presentation to accompany the discussion will be uploaded to the company website along with a press release and other supplemental financial information.

During week 6, banana selling prices in St. Petersburg remained high at around USD 22.00 per box CIF, driven by strong demand, depending on the brand, volume, and packaging. Approximately 1.675 million boxes were unloaded, while nearly 1.720 million boxes are expected for week 07. The exchange rate improved slightly, with 1 USD at 96.91 RUB, benefiting the Russian currency. In the Mediterranean region, Ecuadorian bananas were priced between USD 15.00 and USD 16.00 per box CIF, influenced by brand, volume, area, and packing. In Libya, prices rose to around USD 17.00 per box for Ecuadorian bananas and approximately USD 16.00 per box for Central American fruit. In the Mersin Free Zone, re-exported Ecuadorian bananas sold at prices ranging from USD 16.00 to USD 18.00 per box. In contrast, Central American bananas commanded USD 13.00 to USD 14.00 per box, based on brand, volume, box weight, and packing specifications.

Seamless logistics for temperature-sensitive cargoes become increasingly important with a growing demand for fresh fruits, proteins, and pharmaceutical products. Maersk is building and maintaining a global network of dedicated cold store facilities to provide reliable and safe end-to-end logistics for these perishable products. Completing a state-of-the-art cold store in Rotterdam (The Netherlands) marks the latest addition to this network of owned and leased specialized warehouses.

According to MSC's release, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company has just launched iReefer, the most advanced container monitoring system for reefer cargo. This solution allows customers to track and monitor their temperature-controlled shipments from anywhere in the World in real time. With Reefer, customers can receive real-time insights into their reefer shipments, including information on position, temperature, humidity, and more. It is available via myMSC, the company's proprietary e-business platform, or an API (Application Programming Interface).

Japan's fruit import volumes held steady in 2024, totalling 1.599 million tonnes, a slight increase from 1.593 million tonnes in 2023, as the Ministry of Finance reported. Although these volumes remain below the ten-year average of 1.649 million tonnes, the total import value soared to a record ¥334 billion (US$2.157 billion), primarily driven by the weak yen. Bananas unquestionably dominated the imports, constituting 65.1% of the total.

Osmar Benítez, the Executive President of the Dominican Agribusiness Board (JAD), boldly stated that 90% of the Workforce in banana cultivation consists of unskilled labour. This concerning trend also plagues other agricultural sectors. During the inaugural "Let's Talk About Innovation" conference, he emphasized the urgent need for change, revealing that unskilled labour accounts for 80% of plantain, dairy farming, and coffee cultivation workers. For crops like rice, tobacco, and potatoes, the rates of unskilled labour range from 60% to 80%.

Prefect Johnny Terán is leading the "Siembra Hartón" agricultural program, an initiative to enhance rural productivity in Los Ríos by distributing 222,000 plantain plants, sufficient to cover 200 hectares of farmland. This ambitious project, managed by the Directorate of Agricultural Management, benefits over 200 small and medium-sized producers organized into 50 farming associations. The Prefecture is investing $178,440 to strengthen the agricultural sector and improve living conditions in rural areas.