The increase in exports to Russia reveals a recovery from the decline experienced in 2024, as the export levels reported in 2023 have not yet been reached.

Ecuador accumulated a total of 104.81 million boxes of bananas exported through March 2025, representing an increase of 1.82 million boxes (+1.77%) compared to the same period in 2024.

Three months after Ecuador was restricted from exporting to Algeria, the banana sector demonstrated its adaptability, focusing its export efforts on other relevant regions.

The loss from the Algerian market amounts to approximately 4.3 million cases by March 2025. This volume was partially absorbed by destinations that market through contracts, such as the European Union.

An additional 1.53 million boxes were shipped to this region, with significant growth in France (+573.62%) and Poland (+40.19%).

This positive variation occurs even in the context of container shortages and delays and competition from Colombian bananas.

These conditions restricted the arrival of fruit mainly in Italy (-19.21%) and Spain (-78.11%).

On the other hand, a positive growth rate was observed in Russia (+9.19%), representing an additional 1.82 million boxes shipped.

Despite this, this increase reveals a recovery from the decline experienced in 2024, as the export levels reported in 2023 have not yet been reached, when 23.97 million boxes were exported to this destination compared to the 21.59 million boxes shipped through March of this year.

In Asia, growth of 18.45%, equivalent to 1.05 million boxes, was achieved. This increase was driven almost entirely by China (up 26.47%), which imported an additional 0.87 million boxes, reflecting the sustained impact of the free trade agreement signed last year.

Finally, in the Southern Cone, Argentina increased its demand for Ecuadorian bananas by 1.25 million boxes.

Locally, although weather conditions have reported an improvement in temperatures, with values exceeding 25°C every week, these are still lower than those reported in the same weeks of 2024.

Furthermore, the increase in rainfall has not only posed challenges for production but also for the transport of fruit to ports, which has been reported in some producing areas.

Despite this, the level of sheathing this month was higher than last year; in March 2025, the weekly average was 41.89 sheaths/hectare compared to the 41.80 sheaths/hectare reported in March 2024.