Small banana producers have announced the suspension of their mobilisation. An agreement with the management of the Banamart banana group was reached, although negotiations continue. The blockades erected in front of the Banamart packing plant in Ducos since December 18 have been lifted.

Saint Lucia's Agriculture Minister, Hon Alfred Prospere, shared a positive update on the banana industry, which had suffered a severe setback following Tropical Storm Bret earlier this year. According to him, weekly banana exports have increased to 3,500 boxes and are expected to reach approximately 9,000 in the next eight weeks.

Biosecurity Queensland has negotiated ongoing market access arrangements that allow Queensland banana growers to certify fruit harvested from fallen plants for up to two weeks after a tropical cyclone. General Manager Plant Biosecurity and Chief Plant Health Manager Michael Reid said growers would have an additional two-week supply of bananas, which they could sell destined for interstate market access following Cyclone Jasper.

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In continued efforts to ensure the safety of crew, vessels, and cargo amid the ongoing developments in the Red Sea region, CMA CGM would like to provide you with the necessary information regarding the re-routing of several vessels from their intended route through the Cape of Good Hope.

In four years of port operation in Ecuador, DP World Posorja mobilises 20% of the Andean country's foreign trade. By the end of 2024, its market share is estimated to grow to 35%. The deep-water port began operating in 2019, and in recent days, expectations were generated with the announcement of Maersk changing its logistics services from the Contecon port in Guayaquil to Posorja. Forecasts are that, by 2024, Posorja will handle about 800,000 containers.

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) reviewed all available options to minimise the impact on its operations following a drop in water levels in the waterway's reservoirs. There was no single solution, so the ACP summarised the measures to address this challenge. In a statement, the ACP also unveiled long-term solutions and answers to frequently asked questions from customers and strategic partners.

The Association of Banana Growers of Magdalena and La Guajira–Asbama and the Colombian Agricultural Institute – ICA continue to shield the Colombian Caribbean from TR4. This week, the tour is through the municipalities of Ciénaga and Zona Bananera, in the department of Magdalena, where 74 small producers will attend a presentation and receive biosecurity kits to protect their farms.

Australian growers and exporters from northern Queensland travelled to Japan recently to celebrate, strengthen, and grow its long-standing trade and investment relationship. Japan is Queensland's third-largest agricultural export market, and the state government has identified growth potential for exporting fruit and vegetables.

The Dominican Ministry of Agriculture provided some 140 million pesos ($2.5 million) for its recovery. Hit by the heavy rains that fell over practically the entire national territory last November, the amount granted to the Association of Banana Producers will be used to revive this vital sector at the national level.

Chinese shipbuilder Hudong-Zhonghua has delivered 13,000 TEU LNG-powered containership CMA CGM Bahia to CMA CGM Group. As informed, the delivery ceremony took place on December 7. The ship has a total length of 336 meters, a width of 51 meters, a depth of 26.8 meters, a designed service speed of 21 knots, and a maximum load capacity of 13,200 TEUs.

The vice president of the Agricultural Chamber of Cochabamba, Rolando Morales, reported that several vehicles transporting bananas from the Tropics could not enter Argentina due to the elimination of the Import System of the Argentine Republic (SIRA). "(The new Argentine government) has decided to eliminate the SIRA and has opened the possibility that the negotiations will be between importers and exporters, of course, as long as they comply with the sanitary measures.

To combat the spread of fusarium wilt or TR4, the Philippines Department of Agriculture in the Davao Region (DA-11) has underscored the need to expand banana varieties for export through increased marketing efforts. DA-11 Director Abel James Monteagudo said that as part of the initiative, the DA-Research is currently conducting a value-adding study on caravan flour and banana fibre for paper and textiles for commercialisation.

The Hydrotug 1 is powered by two BeHydro V12 dual fuel medium speed engines that can burn hydrogen in combination with traditional fuel, resulting in an overall 65% reduction in fuel consumption and associated emissions. Each motor provides 2 megawatts of power and an impressive bollard pull of 65 tonnes. These engines also have the latest EU Stage V emissions after-treatment technology.

Maersk will pause all container shipments through the Red Sea until further notice and send them on a detour around Africa, a spokesperson for the company told the press on December 15. "Following the near-miss incident involving Maersk Gibraltar on December 14 and yet another attack on a container vessel on December 15, we have instructed all Maersk vessels in the area bound to pass through the Bab al-Mandab Strait to pause their journey until further notice," the company said in a statement.