In week 11, the selling prices for Ecuadorian bananas in St. Petersburg ranged from USD 17.0 to 18.10 per box CIF. These prices varied based on factors such as brand, quality, volume, and type of packing. Low demand impacted sales. During this week, approximately 2.059 million boxes were discharged. For week 12, around 1.730 million boxes are anticipated to be discharged. The exchange rate during this period was 1 USD = 91.64 RUB. Selling prices in the Mediterranean for Ecuadorian bananas were USD 19.0-20.0 per box CIF, depending on brand, quality, volume, and region. Prices peaked up to USD 20.0-21.0 in Libya. Central American or Mexican Bananas: These were sold at around USD 18.0 per box CIF. Mersin Free Zone Prices: Prices varied from USD 16.0 per box for the re-exported Ecuadorian bananas to USD 18.75-19.0 per box for the same origin, depending on brand, volume, and quality. Bananas from Central America were sold at around USD 12.50-15.0 per box.

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The recent surge in reefer shipping rates is anticipated to be temporary as the industry adjusts to vessel rerouting and deploys excess containership capacity to accommodate longer transit times. While the ongoing cargo rerouting continues to cause delays and complexity in repositioning reefer equipment, it is expected to have a short-term impact on freight rates.

Pánfilo Ayala, president of the Laguna Naineck branch of the Argentine Agrarian Federation, criticised the national Government's decision to open imports of certain foodstuffs, including bananas. He argued that this move legalises the damage to local banana production, which has always been free. Presidential spokesman Manuel Adorni stated that the decision to open imports of certain products definitively aims to make prices more competitive through some tax reductions.

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Insecurity and strikes in Colombia have affected the productivity of the banana sector. According to José Francisco Zúñiga, president of Asbama, these factors resulted in the sector growth of only 1.8% in 2023 instead of the expected 5%. During the strike in La Guajira, around 200,000 boxes of bananas were stopped from being exported. In addition, the presence of illegal groups has increased, threatening workers and transporters in the sector.

Fyffes, a leading global importer and tropical product distributor, strategically emphasises its organic banana segment as part of its marketing strategy. This move aligns with the growing consumer shift towards healthier choices and a wellness-oriented lifestyle, where fresh fruits play a crucial role. Ahiby Rodriguez, Fyffes North America's trade marketing manager, notes the rising interest in organic products. This interest dovetails with Fyffes' objectives for market growth, brand enhancement, and sustainability commitment.

The fruit and vegetable giant Orsero closed 2023 with revenues of 1.54 billion euros, an increase of 28.8% compared to the 1.2 billion of the previous year. Net profit stood at 48.1 million, with an increase of 15.7 million (approximately +48.3%) compared to 2022. The adjusted gross operating margin (EBITDA) rose to 107.1 million (+40.8 %), «settling within the guidance range (105-110 million) ». The board of directors proposed to the meeting called for April 29, a dividend of 0.60 euros per share, an increase of 71.4% compared to 2022.

Since its establishment in November 2022, Fruidor (Solveg group) has been operating at the ZAC d’Aquitaine in Saint-André-de-Cubzac. On March 5, the company welcomed Céline Maquet, the sub-prefect of Blaye. The state representative visited the premises along with several elected officials, including Valérie Guinaudie, president of the CdC du Grand Cubzaguais. Nicolas Rouet, the site director, showcased the impressive facilities that receive 26,000 tonnes of bananas annually, contributing to the group's total of 200,000 tonnes.

The longstanding partnership between Daikin Reefer and Chiquita has been a pillar of innovation and reliability in the global shipping industry. This collaboration, which began in 2018 with Chiquita's initial investment in Daikin's ZeSTIA units, has continuously evolved to meet the rigorous demands of perishable cargo transportation. Chiquita, a leading grower and distributor of bananas, operates a significant shipping fleet through the reputable ocean carrier Great White Fleet. With banana cultivation centres spread across Latin America, Chiquita primarily targets the North American export markets.

The Afrikanische Frucht-Compagnie (AFC) has purchased the former Inter Weichert site on Hamburg's Trostbrücke, a move necessitated by the city's rezoning of the wholesale market, which will soon affect the existing ripening plant. In April, the SFC Südamerikanische Frucht-Compagnie, a 100 per cent subsidiary of AFC, will commence operations. This new establishment will allow AFC to continue ripening bananas and other tropical fruits at its traditional location.

Facing pressure from European clients, particularly supermarket chains demanding lower prices, the Ecuadorian banana sector is striving to highlight the efforts made by stakeholders in the supply chain. For instance, they ensure a living wage is paid. The industry urges Europeans to adopt a Fairtrade methodology (Fairtrade) and pay a fair price for their bananas.

Vicente Wong, CEO of Reybanpac, a leader in the production and export of bananas in Ecuador, has no doubt that the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Ecuador and China is beneficial agreement for the Andean country. Over the past two decades, China has experienced sustained economic growth, averaging 6.6% annual gross domestic product (GDP).

In St. Petersburg, banana selling prices fluctuated between USD 17.25 and USD 19.45 per box CIF. The price variation was contingent upon factors such as the brand, quality, volume, and type of packaging. Sales didn’t improve compared to the previous week. This stagnation in sales can be attributed to a need for stronger market demand. During week 10, approximately 1.35 million boxes of bananas were discharged, and around 2.02 million boxes are anticipated to be discharged in the 11th week. The prevailing exchange rate was 1 USD = 90.75 RUB during this period. In the Mediterranean market, Ecuadorian banana prices ranged from USD 17.00 to USD 18.00 per box CIF. These prices were influenced by various factors such as brand, region, volume, and packing. In contrast, Central American fruit was sold at a lower price, around USD 2.00 less per carton.

Ardashir Shahraki, the deputy head of the provincial agriculture department, has recently highlighted Iran's potential to transition from a banana importer to an exporter. This significant shift could be realized by doubling the area of banana plantations in the Sistan and Baluchestan provinces in the southeast. At present, the province boasts approximately 7,140 hectares of banana plantations. By expanding this area to 15,000 hectares, Iran could meet its domestic demand for bananas and export surplus produce to other markets.