Panamanian ports have posted record growth and cargo volume in 2021, reaching 8.62m teu and an increase of 11.5% compared to 7.73m teu the year before. It was also the first time Panama passed the 8m teu Milestone. Various terminals registered double-digit growth, the highest, 47.5%, at Evergreen's Colon Container Terminal (CCT) with 1.05m teu, a growth not seen in many years. Between 2002 and 2007, the terminal had experienced similar annual growth rates, CCT President Stephen Shafer said.

This preventive measure is carried out in Peru at the disinfection stations installed in the town center of Jíbito, in Sullana, and at the entrance to the province of Paita; in compliance with international regulations, to prevent the spread of the Fusarium TR4 pest. SENASA's technical staff fumigates the outside of cargo vehicles, mainly the tires, to reduce the risk of the fungus being transferred. As is known, the mobilization of contaminated soil is considered an important means of dispersion of the pest, so disinfecting tires is an essential biosecurity measure.

In the past decade, greenhouse banana production has become increasingly popular in Mugla, southwestern Turkey, due to low production costs, Daily Sabah has reported. Harvest time lately started in greenhouses on an area of approximately 120 hectares. This year, the banana growers of Mugla expected a total yield of 9,000 tonnes, the newspaper said. It reported: "In the Southern Aegean region, on the coastline where the Mediterranean climate is dominant, bananas are cultivated in greenhouses in locations with microclimate characteristics, especially in the districts of Seydikemer, Fethiye, Dalaman, and Milas.

As the world continues to experience the effects of climate change, Chiquita is reaffirming its commitment to reducing its carbon footprint through sustainable agriculture practices. The brand has implemented various farm rejuvenation and reengineering practices through its “Farmers’ Code,” an arm of Chiquita’s “Behind the Blue Sticker” strategic vision that aims to improve efficiency, increase yield, and reduce yield Chiquita’s environmental impact while ensuring optimal Chiquita banana quality.

Fyffes swung into a record loss of almost €170 million last year. It was forced to take hefty impairment charges against its melon and mushroom businesses amid the Covid-19 pandemic and group restructuring. The Dublin-based - but Japanese-owned - company also disclosed in its latest annual report, filed with the Companies Registration Office recently, that its long-standing executive chairman David McCann and finance director Tom Murphy shared €7.46 million in exit payments they left the company last year.

The Association of Banana Growers of Colombia, Augura, announced the beginning of the zero-tariff for banana exports to South Korea, which took place with President Iván Duque's visit to this Asian country. "For five years, the FTA was signed with gradual elimination until it reaches zero tariffs to export bananas to South Korea. We will start a commercial activity with this benefit that will increase shipments to this market. The behaviour of foreign trade since 2013 is very positive, although given the history it is essential that in the future all efforts are made to maintain a sustained and growing demand, with the purpose that both countries obtain benefits", affirmed the president of Augura, Emerson Aguirre Medina.

A recent heatwave in the Canary Islands and the strong gusts of wind have affected agriculture, including the plantations of Plátano de Canarias. Agroseguro indicated that, due to the intensity of winds exceeding 90 km / h, on occasions, damages have already been claimed in almost 580 hectares distributed in about 2,300 plots. This phenomenon has affected others as well. The island of La Palma, where fires unleashed recently but remitted afterwards, has been the one that has suffered the most from the consequences of this phenomenon, with winds that blew in a southeast-southwest direction and very low relative humidity that fueled the fire.

Maersk is making boatloads of profit as freight prices skyrocket. The company projects that demand will grow 6-8% for the rest of 2021; Q3 exports from China increase. As a result, it's adjusted its full-year earnings (before taxes, depreciation, and all that good stuff) from US$13-15bn to US$18-19.5bn. Explains Maersk: 'The strong quarterly performance is mainly driven by [chaos in the supply chain]'. However, its Q3 earnings will be volatile at best. Although earnings are expected to increase, Maersk expects sharp dips and spikes in demand.

In July 2021, exports of bananas produced in Cameroon peaked at 12,459 tonnes, according to a compilation of statistics published by the Cameroon Banana Association (Assobacam). The exported shipments are up 764 tonnes compared to July 2020, when local producers shipped 11,695 tonnes to the international market. This improvement is the work of the Upper Punja Plantations (PHP) company. The local subsidiary of the Compagnie fruitière de Marseille posted exports of 10,352 tonnes in July 2021, 404 tonnes more than the 9,948 tonnes exported during July 2020. CDC performance also contributes to this improvement in export volumes.