Ecuador exported 34.43 million boxes of bananas in January 2025, i.e. 2.43% or 883,000 boxes more than in the same period of 2023. There was a recovery in destination countries that had reported significant decreases last year. Exports to Russia in January of 2025 increased by 4.63% or 296,000 boxes over the same month of 2024. Exports to China were 17.89% higher than in 2024. Exports to the main destinations, the United States (+14.45%), Argentina (+80%), and the Netherlands (+29.26%) continued to grow.
Cumulative exports to the European Union increased by 0.96 million boxes compared to 2024, despite persistent logistical obstacles due to adverse shipping conditions and general delays in arrivals at its ports. The countries with the most notable growth are Malta (509.49%), Spain (131.58%), and France (123.51%); an additional estimated 0.36 million have been sent to these destinations. Exports to Asia also increased, led by growth in South Korea (39.14%) and China (17.89%), which together received an additional 0.29 million boxes.
© Kazunori Sano | Dreamstime
The export sector has managed to consolidate growth in several destinations in the context of logistical challenges. The positive results in Asia also show the impact of trade policies undertaken in this region last year. South Korea's measure to reduce tariffs on various fruits to zero, which will be in force until June, has helped Ecuador increase its participation in the country. More than 10% of the bananas that Korea imported in 2024 were Ecuadorian, compared to only 4% in 2023. In China, the FTA signed in May 2024 did not lead to an increase in shipments in the immediate months but could help strengthen the presence of Ecuadorian bananas in this country.
In contrast, the political relations between Ecuador and Algeria represented a significant loss in this market, as in January Ecuador shipped an estimated 1.38 million fewer boxes to this African destination. Algeria accounts for 70% of banana exports to the African region. Thus, the restriction to export to this country translated into a 60.6% decrease in exports to Africa in January 2025 compared to the same month in 2024.
Moreover, weather conditions in Ecuador have improved, with temperatures in January exceeding 25°C every week. Despite this, these temperatures remain lower than in the same weeks of 2024. Consequently, the level of sheathing this year was also lower than last year, falling from 41.68 sheaths/hectare on average per week in January 2024 to 39.70 sheaths/hectare in January 2025. In addition, drainage and irrigation structures might require maintenance due to the increase in rainfall.
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