Banana prices are rising, due to the increase in the cost of transport. This is confirmed by Francesco Galimberti di Frutta 10, a Sardinian company. "We import products from South America, - he says - from countries such as Colombia, Ecuador and Costa Rica. The quality is excellent, there are no problems whatsoever. The only shake-up in recent weeks was due to transport costs".
At the end of the year, the IMO-International Maritime Organization imposed new rules, effective worldwide, to reduce maritime pollution: the fuel used in ships (bunker oil) must be made up of fuel oil with sulfur levels equal to 0,5%. A level which today is 3.5%.
"The cost increase is about 5 cents per kg compared to 2019. It was not easy to get customers to absorb the increase, but they understood that it is not up to us, but it is a generalized situation".
The cost per kg wholesale is therefore around 1.15 euro/kg for a quality product, which increases by another 10 cents for renowned brands. "Consumption is higher than expected and we are satisfied with the market".
The "Frutta 10"'s bananas route has various stages: bananas come from Central America in about 15 travel days, and they are cleared through customs at the port of Civitavecchia or Livorno. Once landed in Porto Torres they arrive at the ripening warehouse, where the process, for each batch, lasts three days. The bananas are then placed in a cold room and distributed throughout the island.
Emanuele and Francesco Galimberti at their stand at the Sestu market (Cagliari).
A slight decrease in sales occurs only in the two central weeks of August. "As for the rest - concludes Galimberti - the demand is constant or rising. Sports activities, wellness culture and healthy snacks between meals, encourage the consumption of bananas".
Contacts:
Frutta10
Tel.: +39 070 2326045
Fax: +39 070 2298313
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.ortugroup.it