The Banana Exporters Association pointed out that logistics conditions continue to be a relevant factor limiting the sector's improved performance in November.
As of November 2024, the Association of Banana Exporters of Ecuador (AEBE) reported that the country accumulated a total of 330.9 million boxes of bananas exported, representing an increase of 4.53 million boxes (1.39%) compared to the same period in 2023. Despite the reduction in demand in Russia (-13.14%) and the Middle East (-6.26%), the increase in shipments in other regions such as the European Union (3.20%), the United States (27.24%), the Southern Cone (13.04%), Eastern Europe (30.57%) and EFTA Europe (31.02%) have helped boost the sector's performance, managing to exceed the previous year's records.
In the European Union, with the end of the summer season, exports increased by 2.99 million boxes compared to November 2023. The countries with the most notable growth are Malta (216.47%), France (116.97%), Italy (40.22%) and Germany (17.90%). In these three destinations, an estimated additional 8.40 million boxes have been shipped until November 2024 compared to 2023. In Asia, a positive variation was achieved with 0.99 million additional boxes (5.76%) exported to this region. In Russia, the accumulated values until November 2024 remain negative compared to those of 2023 with 9.13 million fewer boxes.
Logistics conditions remain a relevant factor limiting the sector's improved performance in November. Factors such as congestion on global routes, including the Suez Canal, and high demand for containers in more profitable markets, delayed deliveries and put pressure on exporters to ship fruit. In markets such as the United States, competition with other agricultural products, such as Chilean fruits, further aggravated the situation. In the national context, low temperatures were still reported during the month of November, affecting the supply of bananas for export. At the national level, the average weekly packing for November (SM41-SM44) of 2024 was 35.99 compared to 41.22 in the same weeks of 2023. In provinces such as El Oro and Guayas, production is even lower, falling below 35 packings/hectare. Despite these two adverse conditions, sector agents have managed to effectively place the limited supply in key markets.
At the company level, some companies managed to increase their export level. Among them, Ubesa (22.72%), Interbananaexport (69.53%) and Frutadeli (15.81%) stand out. Together, these companies sent 11.37 million additional boxes compared to the accumulated levels of November 2023. On the other hand, companies such as Exporbanana (-30.90%) and Agzulasa (-18.91%) experienced a decrease in their export level.
