Philippine banana exports are estimated to have declined in 2023 partly due to pests and the spread of fruit-related disease, the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said. Based on the FAO's latest banana market review, the Philippines exported 2.20 million metric tons (M.T.) of bananas as of the first nine months last year, a decrease of 3.0 per cent from the 2.27 million M.T. delivered in 2022.

"The spread of plant diseases, importantly the devastating spread of the Banana Fusarium Wilt Tropical Race 4 (TR4) disease in the Philippines and its alarming presence in Peru and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, further continued to cause production losses as well as financial strain from the substantial costs associated with disease prevention," the FAO said.

In April 2023, the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association reported that around 15,000 plantations in the Philippines were affected by TR4.

Despite lower shipments, the Philippines continued to be the leading exporter of bananas in Asia last year. "The main exporter from the region continues to be the Philippines, which supplies some 60 per cent of Asian banana shipments on average," the FAO said. Demand for Filipino bananas in some key markets was said to have been affected.

The FAO cited China's fruit imports, which were hindered by supply shortages experienced in the Philippines, Cambodia and Laos. It added that about 50 to 60 per cent of China's banana imports were sourced from the said countries.

Likewise, net imports by Japan are foreseen to decrease by an estimated 3 per cent in 2023, to approximately 1.0 million M.T. "While demand for bananas in the country remained relatively stable, import quantities were reduced by the production shortages experienced in the Philippines, from where Japan typically sources some 75 to 80 per cent of its banana imports," said the FAO. Global fruit exports, meanwhile, are expected to grow by about 0.3 per cent in 2023.