Chiquita is set to make a dynamic return to Milan Design Week 2025, once again opening the doors of The Chiquita House—an immersive and interactive space celebrating the second edition of the brand’s acclaimed Pop by Nature campaign. Taking place as part of the Fuorisalone event, this year’s Chiquita House will offer an engaging and visually striking experience that brings the essence of pop art to life.

The Philippines remains the leading supplier of bananas to Japanese consumers, accounting for nearly 75 per cent of the market last year. This means three of four bananas consumed in Japan were grown in the Philippines. However, the Philippines' share of the Japanese banana market has decreased as competitors gain ground. Over a decade ago, the Philippines dominated the market with a 94 per cent share, but by 2024, this had dropped by almost 20 per cent.

Dole Fresh Fruit Co. has placed an order for 400 Star Cool 1.1 refrigeration units, which will include the Sekstant telematics system. The decision is part of the company's broader efforts to increase operational efficiency and address ongoing changes in the refrigerated transport market, particularly regarding environmental regulations and technological advancements. Industry contexThe global shipping sector continues to undergo structural shifts influenced by regulatory pressure, evolving technologies, and changing trade routes. In response, Dole has opted to upgrade its refrigerated container fleet with the newly introduced Star Cool 1.1 units, which launched in September 2024.

Philadelphia's seaport imports more fresh fruit than any other U.S. port, primarily from Central and South America. However, new tariffs will soon make that cargo more expensive. On April 2nd, President Donald Trump announced a 10% tariff on imports from Costa Rica, Panama, Chile, Guatemala, and Brazil—key suppliers of Philadelphia’s fresh fruit. Australia and New Zealand, which export meat, dairy, and fruit, will also face the tax. Economists predict American importers will bear the costs, which may be passed to consumers.

Analysts have noted that Donald Trump's administration's announcement of tariffs jeopardizes the application of DR-Cafta. They agree that the unilateral imposition of tariffs on various products threatens the development of the Free Trade Agreement between Central America and the Dominican Republic (DR-Cafta). This trade agreement, enacted in Costa Rica on January 1, 2009, boosted trade relations and attracted investments. The United States is Costa Rica's leading trading partner; in 2024, it was the destination for 47% of goods exports, with over 1,800 products sent to the North American nation.

Zespri's first charter shipment of the 2025 New Zealand kiwifruit season has set sail from Tauranga bound for Shanghai. The vessel Kowhai—named by Zespri in 2020—was carrying 1.2 million trays, or around 5,400 tonnes, of Zespri SunGold Kiwifruit and 16 containers of Zespri RubyRed Kiwifruit for customers in China. The Kowhai was due to reach Shanghai at the end of March. Zespri's second charter of the season - the Oriental Iris - also departed last week, bound for Tokyo as the season gets into full swing.

Companies such as PepsiCo, Conagra, and J.M. Smucker have requested tariff exemptions on imported ingredients essential to the food industry, including cocoa, coffee, spices, and tropical fruits. The Consumer Brands Association made this request in a letter. The letter argues that these ingredients are not available in the US, and exempting them from tariffs would help protect domestic manufacturers while preventing increases in consumer costs.

In week 12, the selling prices of bananas in St. Petersburg ranged from USD 27.20 per box CIF to USD 29.55-30.75 per box CIF, depending on the brand, volume, and packaging. Approximately 2.0 million boxes were discharged, and around 1.835 million boxes are expected to be delivered in week 13. The Exchange rate was 84.40 RUB to 1 USD. Prices for bananas in the Mediterranean region varied based on brand, volume, weight, packaging, and origin, ranging from USD 20.00 to USD 23.00 per box, CIF. In Libya, however, prices were higher, with Ecuadorian bananas selling for approximately USD 25.00 to USD 27.00 per box CIF. In contrast, Central American bananas were priced at USD 23.00 to USD 24.00 per box CIF. In Algeria, prices remained higher at USD 30.00 per box CIF or more. The government sanctioned 53 local fruit companies for artificially manipulating prices -according to local media-to raise them during Ramadan. Nonetheless, local traders pointed to a ban on imports of Ecuadorian bananas due to high prices in the domestic market.

Shipping analysts warn that the United States' proposed port docking fees on Chinese ships could negatively impact its economy and disrupt shipping capacity between the two countries. In late February, the US trade Representative suggested fees of up to $1.5 million for Chinese-operated vessels, prompting China to call for an immediate halt to this action. Authorities argue that such fees will raise global shipping costs and exacerbate inflation in the US, with additional expenses likely being passed on to consumers.

Using alternative fuels to fossil-derived products across a wide range of logistics applications continues to increase as companies move toward more environmentally friendly operations with zero or low emissions—electricity, hydrogen, compressed natural gas (biomethane), or methanol. Now that many retailers have rigorous sustainability policies, they will seek out and favour 'green' partner companies over their less sustainable competitors.

Competition from Latin American and African bananas makes it challenging for many farmers in the Canary Islands to sell their products. This leads to a practice known as "pica," which refers to removing surplus bananas. Although destroying bananas is now illegal, Sergio Cáceres of the Association of Canary Islands Banana Producers' Organisations (ASPROCAN) says the term persists. Instead of "destruction," ASPROCAN prefers "non-using," which involves directing unusable bananas to charities, food banks, and livestock feed. While "pica" is EU-approved to manage overproduction, it remains controversial.

Experts from Russian plant and animal health watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor will audit Ecuador's banana certification system in April, the agency said. "This step is aimed at ensuring compliance with international and Russian phytosanitary requirements, as well as improving the quality of exported products," the watchdog said after talks between representatives of Rosselkhoznadzor and the Ecuadoran Agriculture Ministry's agricultural produce quality control agency Agrocalidad. Ecuador accounts for 16% of Russian imports of products subject to quarantine, the agency reported Rosselkhoznadzor deputy head Yulia Shabauskene, as stated at the talks

The price of bananas in Algeria has reached record highs during this holy month of Ramadan. The reason behind this surge is a combination of speculation and the ongoing Sahrawi issue. Each Ramadan, there tends to be a story about shortages or alarming price hikes. This year is no different, as the price of bananas has increased dramatically, a fruit that was once affordable for consumers.

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.