Worldwide banana exports by country totaled an estimated US$14.7 billion in 2019, up by an average 43.3% for all banana shippers over the five-year period starting in 2015 when bananas shipments were valued at $10.2 billion. Year over year, the value of global banana exports appreciated by 11.2% from 2018 to 2019.



From a continental perspective, Latin American excluding Mexico plus the Caribbean accounted for the highest dollar worth of banana exports in 2019 via shipments valued at $8.3 billion or 56.9% of international banana sales. European exporters were responsible for 17.5% of total exported bananas, trailed by shippers in Asia at 15.6%. Smaller percentages came from exporters in Africa (5.2%), North America (4.9%) then Oceania (0.004%) led by Australia.



For research purposes, the 4-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix is 0803 for fresh or dried bananas and plantains.

Countries

Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of bananas during 2019. Ecuador: US$3.3 billion (22.6% of total bananas exports) Philippines: $1.9 billion (13.2%) Colombia: $1.6 billion (11%) Costa Rica: $999.7 million (6.8%) Guatemala: $944.5 million (6.4%) Netherlands: $790.6 million (5.4%) Belgium: $782.1 million (5.3%) United States: $450.3 million (3.1%) Dominican Republic: $432.7 million (3%) Panama: $379.1 million (2.6%) Ivory Coast: $339.7 million (2.3%) Honduras: $302.7 million (2.1%) Mexico: $269.5 million (1.8%) Cameroon: $256.4 million (1.7%) Germany: $242.1 million (1.7%) The listed 15 countries shipped 88.8% of global banana exports in 2019 by value.



Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing bananas exporters since 2015 were: Philippines (up 338.9%), Cameroon (up 307.5%), Panama (up 280%) and Ivory Coast (up 193.4%).



Two countries posted declines in their exported bananas sales namely Germany (down -29.5%) and Belgium (down -19.1%).

Advantages

The following countries posted the highest positive net exports for bananas during 2019. Investopedia defines net exports as the value of a country’s total exports minus the value of its total imports. Thus, the statistics below present the surplus between the value of each country’s banana exports and its import purchases for that same commodity. Ecuador: US$3.3 billion (net export surplus up 17.4% since 2015) Philippines: $1.9 billion (up 339%) Colombia: $1.6 billion (up 101.7%) Costa Rica: $993.2 million (up 19.1%) Guatemala: $942.4 million (up 15.3%) Dominican Republic: $432.7 million (up 89.6%) Panama: $353.4 million (up 254.3%) Ivory Coast: $339.7 million (up 193.4%) Honduras: $300.9 million (up 14.1%) Mexico: $269.5 million (up 42%) Cameroon: $256.4 million (up 307.5%) Peru: $152 million (up 4.7%) Vietnam: $138 million (up 889.3%) Ghana: $97.5 million (no 2015 data) India: $77.8 million (up 50.9%) Ecuador has the highest surplus in the international trade of bananas. In turn, this positive cashflow confirms Ecuador’s strong competitive advantage for this specific product category.

Opportunities

The following countries posted the highest negative net exports for bananas during 2019. Investopedia defines net exports as the value of a country’s total exports minus the value of its total imports. Thus, the statistics below present the deficit between the value of each country’s banana import purchases and its exports for that same commodity. United States: -US$2.3 billion (net export deficit up 7% since 2015) China: -$1.07 billion (up 39.7%) Russia: -$1.06 billion (up 21.7%) Japan: -$959.3 million (up 13.6%) United Kingdom: -$718.6 million (down -10.8%) Germany: -$708.6 million (up 11.3%) Italy: -$469.3 million (up 5%) Canada: -$427.2 million (up 2.9%) France: -$412.8 million (up 55.2%) Belgium: -$318.7 million (up 59.2%) South Korea: -$301.6 million (down -4.8%) Netherlands: -$293.4 million (up 476.1%) Poland: -$234.8 million (down -6%) Argentina: -$196.1 million (down -9.1%) Romania: -$174.6 million (up 45.8%) The United States of America incurred the highest deficit in the international trade of bananas. In turn, this negative cashflow highlights America’s strong competitive disadvantage for this specific product category but also signals opportunities for banana-supplying countries that help satisfy the robust demand from American consumers.



One possible tactic is to introduce innovative ways to store or extend the shelf lives of such perishable goods.

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