A significant development in international phytosanitary control has been reported. Russia and Ecuador have agreed on a memorandum concerning this critical agricultural health and safety aspect. Interfax, a non-governmental news agency based in Moscow, disclosed on February 22 that an agreement had been reached between Rosselkhoznadzor, Russia's Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision, and the Agriculture Quality Assurance Agency of Ecuador.

In 2023, Uzbekistan’s banana imports experienced a 5% decrease, with the total import volume reaching 133.5 thousand tons. This was a drop from the previous year’s figure of 140.2 thousand tons. Despite this decline, Ecuador maintained its position as the primary supplier of bananas to Uzbekistan, a trend that continued from 2022 to 2023. The Statistics Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan reported that the country’s expenditure on banana imports amounted to $95.1 million in 2023.

The Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) is on the verge of a significant milestone, set to become the first shipping liner to command a 20% global market share since Maersk achieved this briefly in early 2018. This development highlights MSC’s impressive growth and strategic acumen in the intricate realm of international trade. This impending achievement coincides with MSC’s preparation to end its 10-year partnership with Maersk next year, marking the termination of their 2M vessel-sharing agreement.

System used by Maersk’s methanol dual-fuel container ship boosts safety and saves energy. Danish engineering company Eltronic FuelTech has launched its low-flashpoint fuel supply system (LFSS) for Laura Maersk. The company said it is the first in the industry to offer equipment for supplying fuel from tanks to engines on methanol-powered ships.

Shares of A.P. Møller – Mærsk A/S (OTCMKTS:AMKBY ) have been given an average recommendation of “Reduce” by the twelve ratings firms that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, four have assigned a hold recommendation and three have issued a buy recommendation on the company.

Australian scientists are spearheading a research initiative to develop a robotic arm aimed at automating the labor-intensive and repetitive aspects of banana processing. The A$2m research program, delivered through Hort Innovation, is a collaborative effort involving the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Future Food Systems, the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Hub, and BNL Industrial Solutions.

In 2023, Georgia experienced a significant increase in banana imports, with a 45% rise compared to the previous year. The country imported 40,148 tons of bananas, valued at USD 34.2 million, a substantial increase from the 37,233 tons worth USD 29.1 million in 2022. In January 2024, Georgia’s banana imports continued to grow, with the country purchasing 4,244 tons of bananas worth USD 3.5 million, 1.8 times more than the same period last year.

Morrisons, the leading British retailer, has launched a new ‘Price Match’ campaign, promising its customers that it offers products at the same or even lower prices than discounters like Aldi and Lidl. This initiative is part of Morrisons’ commitment to provide quality products at competitive prices.

On February 21st, a significant event marked a new chapter in the history of Guayaquil, Ecuador. Cool Carriers, in partnership with Contecon Terminal, signed a contract for exclusive use of state-of-the-art cold store, symbolically laying the first stone in a ceremony that heralded a new era of Cool Carriers service from Ecuador. The cold store, aptly named the “Guayaquil Banana Gateway,” is set to be constructed at the prime location in front of quay #5, replacing the old dry facility.

The invasions of the banana plantations of La Esperanza, La Paz and Guanacaste last November left extensive damage to banana plantations. It has led to the temporary closure of these farms, leading to the suspension of jobs for some 500 temporary workers and a 50% reduction in fruit exports. The banana company will stop exporting a thousand containers of bananas, and 25 million lempiras in salaries will not circulate during this time of suspension of production, which will be for several months.

The selling prices for bananas in St. Petersburg ranged from USD 21.35 to 22.40 per box CIF. These prices varied based on factors such as brand, quality, type of packing, and weight. However, there were operational delays and disruptions related to Customs and Sanitary formalities. These issues arose due to the ban imposed on five Ecuadorian companies following alleged findings of the humpback fly in their banana shipments. According to Russian authorities, the ban is expected to be lifted on Monday, February 19. However, in the meantime, there are still hundreds of containers that have recently arrived at the St. Petersburg port, and which are blocked due to the ban. During week 7, approximately 1.890 million boxes were discharged, and around 1.790 million boxes are anticipated for week 8. The exchange rate during this period was 1 USD = 91.83 RUB.

The Free Agrarian Platform of the Canary Islands (PALCA) has demanded "urgent measures" from both the Ministry of Agriculture of the Government of the Canary Islands and Asprocan, as it considers that "if the POSEI aid distribution system does not change and it is provided with transparency", the banana sector "has two years left". The secretary of PALCA in El Hierro, Pablo Carmona, has substantiated this omen by pointing out that it is not profitable for farmers to continue producing plátanos and even less so in La Palma where there are about 5,000 small producers

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Saint Lucia is looking for new buyers for its excess banana production. Although producers use surplus bananas to feed pigs, the lack of a market for this surplus is a cause for concern. The Minister of Agriculture, Alfred Prospere, informed journalists that the industry has exceeded the 15,000 boxes sent abroad weekly. This complete recovery follows the impact of Hurricane Bret, which destroyed almost 75% of the plantations last June.

The Ecuadorian Banana Cluster, represented by AEBE and Acorbanec, together with the support and accompaniment of the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Franklin Danilo Palacios, and H.E. Diego Morejón-Pazmiño, Ambassador of Ecuador to Germany, stands united to address the critical issues faced by banana producers in their annual negotiations with European Union (EU) retailers. The focus is on the relentless pressure from European supermarkets for meagre prices.