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The value-added tax (VAT) is nearing the end of its first week since the increase from 12% to 15% took effect on April 1 in Ecuador. Export-focused productive sectors are evaluating the impact of this hike, determining whether they can absorb it or if it will be reflected in the final price of their products, such as the banana box. The banana sector is conducting these analyses amidst a 3% decrease in fruit exports in January and February of the previous year, translating to approximately two million fewer boxes exported compared to the same period in 2023.

Ocean Network Express (ONE) has commenced a trial shipment of the world's first dual-temperature reefer container with controlled atmosphere (C.A.) functions. This innovative container can maintain perishable cargo in different temperature zones, significantly advancing marine transportation.

Dole plc, the Dublin-based company, has cancelled the sale of its fresh vegetable’s unit to Fresh Express. This decision comes more than a year after the deal was announced with Fresh Express's parent company. In January of the previous year, Dole agreed to sell its U.S. vegetable division to Fresh Express, a subsidiary of Chiquita Brands International, for $293 million.

Tesco, the U.K.'s leading grocer, has issued an important notice to its shoppers who purchase bananas. The supermarket has posted a helpful guide on its website, providing customers with tips on optimally using their bananas, even those past their prime. According to Tesco, bananas are the U.K.'s most beloved fruit. Astonishingly, more than 5 billion bananas are purchased every year. However, about 10% of these, or 1.4 million bananas, are wasted daily.

From Monday to Wednesday, banana selling prices in St. Petersburg were around USD 20.10 per box CIF. However, they started a downward trend afterwards, dropping to USD 19.05-19.60 per box CIF by Friday, March 29th. The market weakened due to low demand and high volumes of bananas discharged in week 12. According to local traders, this will also affect prices in week 13. Almost 3.29 million boxes were discharged in week 12, and 1.81 million are expected in week 13. There were difficulties at transit markets, with at least one case reported of importers from Uzbekistan refraining from paying bananas to exporters from Ecuador—an importer with a contract of 30 containers per week abandoned at most minuscule 30 FEUs. Difficulties were also experienced in other transit countries’ markets, such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, where consistent volumes of bananas from origins other than Ecuador were imported. According to local traders, the larger volumes of bananas imported from India, China, Egypt, and other countries sold at lower prices affected the trade with Ecuador, and two more weeks might be necessary to clear the volumes of the fruit of origin different from those of Ecuador.

IITA-CGIAR and six national agricultural research centres have signed the Mchare and Matooke Regional Target Product Profiles. This agreement aims to enhance banana breeding and its impact in East Africa, serving smallholder farmers and their families more effectively. The deal was signed during the recent East Africa Banana Network Meeting in Kampala, Uganda, to jointly develop and test new banana hybrids in the highlands of Eastern Africa, following standardized breeding and testing procedures.

The major carriers are scrambling to assist customers and formulate plans in the wake of this week's incident, which suspended vessel traffic in the Port of Baltimore indefinitely. While no container vessels were on the dock at the time of the incident, CMA CGM reports that the terminal stopped receiving exports as of 11 a.m. on March 26, prompting the carrier to issue a notice of Force Majeure to customers.

For many Americans, Christmas is the biggest day of the year. For others, it's the 4th of July or Halloween. For accountants, it's Tax Day; for teachers, it's the start of summer vacation. But for the tens of thousands of fresh fruit farmers, marketers, shippers, and specialists at Dole Food Company, the brand behind the world's best-selling DOLE® Banana, National Banana Day on April 17 is the most significant annual cause for celebration.

Ane Mærsk, the world's first sizeable methanol-fuelled container ship operated by A.P. Moller–Merks, docked at EUROGATE Container Terminal Hamburg (CTH) on Thursday, March 28. The vessel, measuring 350 meters in length and 53.5 meters in width, has a capacity of up to 16,000 TEU. It is the first in a series of 18 methanol-capable ships, with capacities ranging between 16,000 and 17,000 standard containers (TEU), to be delivered to Maersk in 2024 and 2025.

Fresh Del Monte Produce has been named to Newsweek's list of the World's Most Trusted Companies for the third consecutive year. In 2024, the fresh produce distributor and marketer achieved the No. 8 rank in the Food and Beverage category, reflecting the trust of consumers, investors, and employees.

A delegation of 25 Filipino companies collectively secured approximately $133 million in export sales at the "Gulfood" expo, which took place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), from February 19 to 23 this year. According to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)—Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), the group's export sales consist of booked orders and sales under negotiation.

This month, just over five years after operations began in 2018, APM Terminals Moin (TCM) has handled more than 6 million containers. During this period, container volumes have increased from just over 1 million TEUs in 2019 to 1.26 million TEUs in 2023. The average number of vessels calling at the terminal each month has also increased from 12 in 2018 to more than 89 in 2023—up to three times higher than other ports in the region.

Javier Bereche, president of the Chamber of Commerce of Piura (CAMCO), expressed his concern about the considerable decrease in exports of grapes, mangoes, bananas, and coffee, among other products. In response to this situation, he asked the Executive and the Congress of the Republic to intervene to rescue this sector, proposing the rescheduling of the terms of the loans due to farmers, the activation of the Reactiva credits and the implementation of the Agrarian Development Law.

In 2023, the Canary Islands' banana industry reached a historic high, with island producers marketing a record 440,000 tons. However, this achievement is overshadowed by challenges, primarily competition from imported bananas. According to Asprocan, the Association of Organizations of Banana Producers of the Canary Islands, these imports compete under more favourable rules and act as a distribution brand, driving prices down.