November 1 2007, 10:50

Ukrainian companies started to import bananas from Guatemala

Banana of Guatemalan origin entered Ukrainian markets, CIS produce business weekly "Agrooglyad: Vegetables and Fruits" informs.

The companies, specialized on the imports of bananas, citrus fruits and exotic fruits, call the supplies of Guatemalan bananas a coercive solution. The situation was provoked by poor banana harvest in Ecuador; as a result, the prices for this fruit zoomed sharply up in Ukraine and Russia.

Ecuador is a traditional major supplier of bananas to CIS countries. However, the production has dramatically declined in this country in 2007, so the importers have to extend the circle of suppliers and to reduce the volume of supplies as a consequence of the slowed down rates of retail banana sales. The consumers responded to high banana prices by the reduced volumes and frequency of purchases. To the experts' opinion, bananas were replaced by apples, pears, grape and citrus fruits in consumption scheme.

Guatemalan bananas are of relatively low quality; but they are inexpensive at the same time. Now the importers offer wholesale shipments of bananas for $0.88-0.94/kg; however, market players think that the price growth will resume soon, because of the traditionally increased banana consumption in autumn-winter period.

You can find out the main trends and perspectives of external fruit&vegetable trade in Ukraine if you visit the fourth international conference "Fruits and Vegetables of Ukraine 2007. Meeting New Leader". The event will start on the 4th of December 2007 on the territory of the National Complex "Expocenter of Ukraine" in Kyiv and will last for free days. To participate in the conference, you need to fill in the online application form on our site.