Philippines: Banana exporter to expand operations

July 27, 2009 - Business World

A MINDANAO-based banana producer is aiming to expand operations this year to cater to the increasing demand for the high-value crop abroad, the company chief said. "As we generate more cash, we can have additional ... read more...

EU15: Sharp decline in May

by David Ivanovic

Total banana shipments to the EU in May were 16% lower than for the same month in 2008 (378,000 tons vs 448,900 t.) , making total imports for the first 5 months of 2009 more than 5% lower than for the same period last year.

David will be in Japan! Any requests?

by David Ivanovic

I'll be in Japan for a couple of days, and I'll take that opportunity to meet some key players involved in exotics product imports and to share with you how they are marketed in this 130 million people market.

Mata!

Philippines: Banana growers cites PGMA's lifting of banana hectarage limit

July 21, 2009 - Philippine Information Agency

The Philippine Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) of Davao City has expressed their gratitude to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for expanding the number of hectares dedicated to banana plantations. PBGEA president Steve Antig said they are thanking the issuance of Executive Order No. 807 lifting the ... read more...

Chiquita in Latin America

July 17-19, 2009 - Counterpunch

When the Honduran military overthrew the democratically elected government of Manuel Zelaya two weeks ago there might have been a sigh of relief in the corporate board rooms of Chiquita banana. Earlier this year the Cincinnati-based fruit company joined Dole in criticizing the government in Tegucigalpa which had raised the minimum wage by 60%. Chiquita complained that the new regulations would cut into company profits, requiring the firm to spend more on costs than in Costa Rica: 20 cents more to produce a crate of pineapple ... read more...

Ecuador calls off banana negotiations with EU

July 19, 2009 - EUBusiness

Ecuador has called off banana trade talks with the European Union that also included Colombia and Peru, saying World Trade Organization (WTO) rulings in Quito's favor were not being respected. "Ecuador has made this decision until the dispute over ... read more...

USA: Dole Food Sues Makers of ‘Bananas!*’ Documentary for Defamation

July 9, 2009 - Bloomberg

Dole Food Co., the world’s biggest fresh fruit and vegetable producer, sued the makers of “Bananas!*” saying the documentary movie about a 2007 trial brought by Nicaraguan farm workers was “blatantly false.” The documentary, shown last month at the Los Angeles Film Festival, “promotes as fact a false story that was adjudicated a fraud on Dole and on California’s courts before the film ... read more...

Japanese Banana Boom Is Boon to Dole as Imports Surge to Record

July 15, 2009 - Bloomberg

Japanese banana imports are headed for a second straight record gain this year, fueled by fad diets and households looking for cheap food amid the recession. Imports of the fruit, mostly of the Cavendish or Senorita varieties, rose 34 percent from a year earlier to 540,000 tons in the five months ... read more...

Malaysia: Banana Farmers Suffer Losses From Disease

July 15, 2009 - BERNAMA

The banana crop in the Jasin district is hit by a rare disease that blackened the fruits since early last month causing farmers to suffer losses. Ahmad Baharuddin, who had since reported a loss of RM10,000, said the disease rendered the crop in his 10ha farms in Perkampungan Tersusun Lipat Kajang and Kampung Terentang inedible. The harvest from the district is ... read more...

UK: ISN to host forum on worldwide banana production

July 10, 2009 - International Supermarket News

International Supermarket News is to partner Professor John Moverley OBE in organising a forum on the worldwide production and marketing of bananas at the World Fruit and Vegetable Show 2009, on October 21st at the Excel Exhibition Centre in London. ...read more...

India: PTI Farmers dump banana cultivation in central TN

July 10, 2009 - Yahoo India

The poor man''s fruit banana is falling out of farmers'' favour in central Tamil Nadu as many banana cultivators find it a less lucrative crop and are switching over to paddy and sugarcane. Higher labour and input costs, shortage of farm labourers, remunerative prices and susceptibility of the crop to natural calamities have made banana cultivation a less attractive option, farmers say. In the last few years paddy ... read more...

New US import data available tomorrow!

by David Ivanovic

Stay tuned as tomorrow I’ll publish the latest US import data for May 2009. EU data will be availalbe a few weeks later.

Banana market share in Japan

by David Ivanovic

Trade data from the Japanese Customs suggest that for 2008, the Japanese demand for fresh bananas amounted to 1,092,738 tons, and the CIF value for the same year was around US$ 850 millions.

The vast majority of bananas found in supermarket throughout Japan are coming from the Philippines (93% of total figures in 2008), while the remaining players counted for less than 75,000 t. Ecuador shipped 46,000 t., or only 4% of banana demand in Japan.

Mots clés Technorati : banana,trade data,japan

Ecuador banana group calls sanction on EU over duties

July 8, 2009 - Reuters

Banana exporters from Ecuador, the world's top exporter of the fruit, on Tuesday called on the government to sanction the European Union if the bloc fails to cut import tariffs.

"If by this summer, the EU's negotiating charade continues, and no legally solid settlement has been reached with large, enforceable tariff cuts equal to those agreed in Geneva last July, Ecuador will have to take reprisals," the exporter group said in a statement. ... read more...

Japan: Banana sales reveal upward curve

July 7, 2009 - Mainichi Daily News

Japan's banana imports are rising sharply, despite an overall decline in fruit consumption, to become the nation's favorite fruit in terms of household spending.

Bananas are apparently gaining popularity among today's budget conscious consumers for their low price and nutritional content. Import volumes hit an all-time high of 1.09 million tons in 2008, a year-on-year increase of 12.6 percent, ... read more...

Moscow: price decrease for bananas to be expected

July 6, 2009 - www.lol.org.ua

The leading specialists forecast prices decrease for bananas that will be observed on Moscow fruit and vegetable market in the nearest future. At the moment prices for this produce are declared within a range of 0.77-0.82 euro/kg, but it is expected that the price will decrease to the level of 0.68 euro/kg.

Carribean: Caricom Makes Recommendations on Region's Banana Industry

July 4, 2009 - Jamaica Information Service

Prime Minister the Hon. Bruce Golding told this morning's session of the 30th regular meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of Caricom that the European Commission (EC) has presented a revised schedule for the reduction of tariffs on bananas from the non-African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of countries. ... read more...

European banana figures going negative in April

by David Ivanovic

April volumes in the EU15 area were sharply down from imports in 2008, dropping by 13% and reflecting a drop in European demand (390,000 t. instead of 450,000t.).

Link to relevant industry presentations

by David IVANOVIC

I've found these very interesting and up-to-date presentations that were given during the International Forum of Bananas and Fresh Fruits. Just click the link below:

http://www.aebe.com.ec/Desktop.aspx?Id=126

EUROPE - Banana survey week 27

A.E.B.E. - FruiTrop

The deterioration of the European market has intensified and extended, though the supply has remained relatively moderate. Delivery levels from Africa have continued to be high, but those from the French West Indies have temporarily dropped, while dollar banana imports remain highly ... read more...

India: Horticulture Dept distributes Banana seedlings

July 1, 2009 - The Shangai Express

With the main objective of increasing Banana production in the State so as to export the surplus to augment the income of the State as well as of the farmers, Department of Horticulture and Soil Conservation has started distributing Banana seedlings among the farmers from today. The distribution of seedlings of Grand Nine, a type of ... read more...

Australia: National banana project begins

July 2, 2009 - FoodWeek Online

A new three year national project to begin the elimination of the Bunchy Top virus in the subtropical banana industry began on July 1, as the first stage towards the complete eradication of the virus in Australia. The project is being funded by the national banana industry levy which is managed by Horticulture Australia Limited, with matched funding from ... reade more...

Peru's bananas exports rose 28 percent

June 30, 2009 - Living in Peru

According to the Peruvian Exporters’ Association (Adex), Peru's banana exports rose 28% between January and May 2009, amounting US $23.56 million dollars to 12 destinations. The main exports was "Fresh Cavendish Valery Bananas," totaling US ... read more...