THE Philippines solidified its position as Asia's leading banana exporter, delivering over 2.3 million metric tons (MT) to various markets in 2023, according to a report from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Philippine bananas accounted for 60 percent of shipments from Asia in 2023. The volume also reflects a 3.4-percent increase from 2022.
The increase in exports was attributed to growing markets such as Iran and Saudi Arabia, where shipments increased by 60 percent and 12 percent, respectively.
The FAO also said that the growth indicated a recovery after three years of consecutive declines due to challenges related to the pandemic and the impact of Tropical Race 4 (TR4) disease on 2020-2022.
"Over the past decade, the country's banana production has been impacted by adverse growing conditions related to various factors, including the spread of TR4, occasional floodings and occurrences of political unrest," it said.
For its part, the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association said the increase was due to substantial investments on measures versus TR4 and rehabilitating 3,000 to 4,000 hectares of affected plantations.
As of February 2024, TR4 had hit around 17,000 to 18,000 hectares of banana plantations in the Philippines.
The FAO also said that logistical difficulties had impacted the quality of bananas exported to Japan in the first nine months of 2023. Demand for bananas remained strong in major markets, the FAO said, given its affordability compared to other fruits. Global imports of bananas grew slightly by 0.3 percent last year to 18.4 million MT.
"Amid inflationary pressures, bananas continued to benefit from their relative affordability compared to other fruits, which supported their popularity among consumers," the agency said.
China, the third-largest importer of bananas globally, saw a 2.3-percent decline in imports to just below 1.8 million MT due to lower global supplies. Imports from the Philippines and Cambodia, which accounted for 50 percent of China's banana imports, were also affected.
Looking ahead, the FAO projected the global banana market for 2024 to have more positive developments "provided that price variations in real terms will continue to be favorable and price increases at the export and import stages are also captured by producers."
However, it added that the spread of TR4 remained a concern due to its ability to affect a wide range of banana and plantain cultivars and the lack of effective eradication methods.
Read The Rest at :
