Banana traders, in an increasingly unbalanced currency confrontation, are looking for stability, at least within their own sector. Export difficulties forced manufacturers and traders to gather in the framework of the international commercial fair in Davao (Davao Trade Expo, Philippines). Latin American banana exporters expect the markets of Europe and Russia to be activated.

The process of growing and selling fruits for the modern world goes beyond the boundaries of exclusively agriculture. The production of edible goods needs territories and labor, related industries, and transport. The efficiency of this production depends on the position of a particular country in the export market, and also affects this position. The “humble” banana business makes about $10 billion a year and touches most countries in the world.

Partially forgotten against the backdrop of the oil and metallurgy sectors, the fruit business requires attention from international conventions. This summer, the European Union signed a special treatise on banana commerce (June 1, Geneva), the content of which has been discussed since last year. The main achievement in favor of banana exporters was the reduction (now - 148 euros per ton) of customs duties on the import of this fruit into the European Union. The innovation came into force immediately, and moreover, the difference in duties already paid, starting from December 15, 2009, will be retroactively credited to manufacturers. The European side also signed a compromise that by 2017 customs duty for the import of bananas will gradually decrease to the level of 114 euros per ton.

This agreement was initiated by representatives of Latin American countries, from where almost the entire volume of banana exports goes to Europe. In particular, Nicaragua, whose economy is supported in large part by the agricultural sector, was the first to call for "easing discrimination" against banana producers. The treaty was signed by the European Union, Brazil, Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Peru.

banana summit

On Friday, November 5, the first ever Banana Summit (Banana Summit) started under the auspices of the food and commercial fair Davao Trade Expo (www.davaotradeexpo.com). The Philippines, a host country and also a producer of bananas that exports in its region, along with Taiwan and the countries of Southeast Asia, has become the focus of attention of international organisms these days. Leading banana exporting firms, representatives of the administrations of producing countries and heads of international committees on agriculture and climate have gathered here. The specialists worked out a ten-year Global Banana Economic Forecast plan, exchanged marketing strategies in the name of improving global banana commerce and healthy competition. In an era when the currencies of many producing countries are rising, the banana sector has taken the lead in a "self-defense course", trying to reduce the negative effect of the dollar's cheapness through market strategies.

banana republics

Thanks to favorable conditions in the mild equatorial climate, Ecuador harvests bananas all 52 weeks of the year from its plantations, spread over 180,000 hectares in nine provinces of the country. The banana industry is one of the most important sectors of Ecuadorian exports, after oil, with a share of 3.84% country's GDP and half of its entire agricultural product. Banana companies employ, directly or indirectly, 12% of Ecuador's population.

All exports are carried out under the direction of the Banana Exporters Association (www.aebe.ec), which has become the main partner of many foreign importing companies over the half century of the existence of this sector. Director of this organization Eduardo Ledezma says: “Sales in general, are maintained at the level of last year, although we expect more. The weather this summer was not conducive, and we underproduced 2 million packages of bananas.” For reference, a package of bananas contains 18.4 kg, which gives an approximate figure of 36,800 tons. In addition, purchases from the United States and Russia decreased slightly, by 3% and 2%, respectively. The United States - due to the continuation of the financial crisis, and Russia began to partially buy bananas in Costa Rica.

Nevertheless, shipments to the European Union retained their volumes. Eduardo Ledezma assures that sales will not fall again until the end of this year, and the mark of 270 million packages sold last year will be crossed.

Another country specializing in the production of bananas is Peru. The largest banana companies in this country export mainly to the EU market, 70-100 containers weekly. Banana production is concentrated on the warm northern coast of Peru, in the valleys of Vaye de Chira, where the harvest is year-round. The production system is based on the involvement of small farms, sometimes more than 800 in the structure of one company, which operate on the basis of conventions signed by producers' associations. It is one of the most socially beneficial ways of working and ensures long-term cooperation between the small private sector and the corporation. And, the most positive thing about this is that the profit from banana production is distributed and accounted for within the community - among the families of the owners of the plots and workers. More than half of the bananas exported from Peru are grown under fair trade conditions (Comercio Justo, a program of the international humanitarian organization Intermon Oxfam).

Banana road to Russia

In addition to the Ecuadorian brands of banana Dole, Bonita and others familiar on the Russian table, a novelty is expected soon, a product of the military-oil alliance with Venezuela. During his last visit to Moscow, President Hugo Chavez, in addition to the main line of mutual interests, signed preliminary agreements on the supply of fresh flowers and bananas to Russia. Motivating his mission with the interests of his people (despite the fact that all companies participating in these programs belong to the state), Chavez announced on Venezuelan television: “Venezuela is already sending coffee to Belarus, and possibly soon also to Ukraine. In the case of Russia, our intention to export bananas and flowers is a factor in the overall strategic vision to establish joint ventures to produce bananas here, and transport them to Russia, like coffee, and now the idea of ​​​​sturgeon, from which caviar is taken, has arisen; and chocolate, the best in the world! Mr. Chavez's rhetoric is, as usual, chaotic and patriotic - literally translated. In other words, in parallel with mutual state orders for armaments and oil production, Russia and Venezuela intend to open less aggressive channels of cooperation. Another thing is how the Venezuelan president plans to transport cut flowers over 10,000 km. But bananas, fortunately, can reach the Russian consumer safe and sound, like the Ecuadorian ones.

Another relatively new Russian supplier of bananas, Costa Rica, is extremely interested in the high level of consumption and market size in the Russian Federation. So far, only one company is importing Costa Rican fruit, while coffee, melon and ornamental producers are looking for ways to cooperate with Russian entrepreneurs. This business at first does not involve large investments, its main task is to calculate the optimal route for delivery and import duties. The cost of goods when buying from the manufacturer fluctuates around 4-8 dollars per package, a bunch of bananas 18-20 kg, on average no more than 45 cents per kg. Income, knowing the prices in the market, is easy to calculate.

Existing Russian company importer of bananas, Bonanza S.A. (JFC Group), until recently doing business on a grand scale, in 2008 imported 75 containers per week, which brought Costa Rica $ 28.7 million. In the first half of 2010, imports fell to 20 containers weekly. Representatives of the company claim that this is not due to the financial difficulties of the company, nor with a drop in demand. The reason, in their opinion, is the high cost of bananas compared to Ecuadorian ones. In Costa Rica, they do not quite agree with such a hint of a price cut, since the Russian market, according to a study by their Chamber of Commerce, has a much larger supply of cash from consumers than in advanced developing countries. And the difference in cost with Ecuadorian exports is not decisive. In addition, Central American manufacturers are still wary of doing business with Russian entrepreneurs, as there have already been cases of non-payment, debts and, in Russian, “scammers”. They also talk about the need to find a faster way to transport the product by sea. From tropical plantations to city stalls, the one-way banana journey is long and full of obstacles.

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Bananas

Banana is one of the most significant agricultural crops. In terms of production, it is comparable to rice, wheat, corn and potatoes. For the population of many countries, the banana is the most important food, replacing bread and meat. According to the World Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), in 2007 global banana production was 1/3 world potato production. Over the past 100 years, the banana has firmly entered the diet of the inhabitants of even those countries where it does not grow. If we talk about the main countries of suppliers, then Latin America is the leader in the world export of bananas, annually its countries supply about 500 million boxes. India can be singled out among the main producers, it accounts for 21% world production, China, Brazil, the Philippines account for 9% production volume, Ecuador - 8% , Indonesia - 7% . At the same time, large producers are not always major suppliers of bananas to the international market. For example, India and Brazil consume all bananas grown domestically. A 64% world imports of bananas come from Ecuador, Costa Rica, the Philippines and Colombia, countries with not the highest production of this product (with Ecuador alone providing about 30% ).

Bananas grow in countries where the tropical climate prevails, i.e. near the equator, because they love heat. These include the states of Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and the Pacific, etc. Many countries in these regions grow bananas as their main domestic staple, and only about a fifth of them are commercial banana exporters.

Most of the bananas sold in Europe, the USA and Russia (about 80%) are exported to Latin American countries, the rest of the grown and sold bananas are in West Africa. The main feature of countries where bananas grow is their backwardness in economic and social development.

Despite this state of affairs, countries that export bananas do not take the lead in terms of cultivation. In the first places in the production and, accordingly, the consumption of bananas are India, China and the Philippines. It is understandable, the huge population of these countries is mainly engaged in agriculture- the only source of food for the poorest classes.

The main players in the world banana market are Ecuador, Costa Rica, Colombia and Guatemala and other countries called countries of the banana dollar. These states are the main partners of the world's banana corporations, and as a result, they are traditionally influenced by the US dollar.

Plantations where bananas grow.

Usually farms in Latin where bananas are grown are large monoculture plantations. They require large investments in the construction of roads, irrigation canals, and communications. Modern banana plantations use a large number of fertilizers, which allows you to get up to 80 tons of bananas from 1 hectare.

Ecuador, Colombia and Peru are the only countries in Latin America where, along with large farmers, there are several thousand small banana farms. They play an important role in the export of bananas and act as a buffer: large exporters buy up the produce of small plantations when the demand for bananas is high.

Working conditions on banana plantations are very poor in terms of wages and social conditions, the use of a large amount of chemicals is detrimental to the health of workers and the environment.

Caribbean bananas tend to be grown in small family farms using more sustainable production methods than the vast plantations of Latin America. The banana trade is critical to the economy of the Caribbean region, providing an influx of currency to address social and economic problems.

However, over the past 10 years, about 20,000 banana family farms have ceased to exist, unable to compete with cheaper Latin American bananas, or suffering significant losses due to regular hurricanes.

Banana has long been considered exotic on the table of the inhabitants of Russia. You can buy it at any store or fruit and vegetable market. It has become such a familiar fruit that few people are already wondering: where do bananas come from in Russia and how did they even get into our country?

What is a banana?

Banana, as strange as it may sound, is considered a grass, not a tree. It ranks second in size after bamboo among all existing herbs. This is a fairly popular fruit that has spread throughout the world. Exists great amount varieties on which the shape and size of a banana depends. Basically, it has an elongated cylindrical shape with a length of 3 to 40 cm and a thickness of 2-4 cm. All varieties are divided into 3 groups:

1. Feed - low-value varieties, grow in unpretentious conditions and go to feed livestock.
2. Table - larger fruits, can reach up to 50 cm in length. They are steamed, fried and made into chips. Such bananas are rarely exported.
3. Dessert - yellow or green, straight and faceted, up to 35 cm long. It is dessert bananas that we see on store shelves.

History of appearance in Russia

In our country, for a long time they did not know what a banana is. The first time the USSR bought a large batch of bananas was in 1938. At that time, few people suspected the beginning of the World War, and the successfully completed industrialization made it possible to use part of the proceeds in foreign currency for the purchase of exotic goods. By the end of 1939, this fruit was sold in almost all stores in the capital, and a little later appeared in other regions of the USSR.

Bulk purchases began around 1950. By this time, the country's economy had almost recovered from a long war, and a record pace was recorded. economic growth for the first time since 1945. But the most important thing is that the countries in which those bananas grow were in the sphere of influence. Most had no idea where bananas were brought to Russia from. At that time, the main supplier was China and Vietnam. Later they were replaced by Latin America, and by 1970 Ecuador was already supplying about 9,000 tons of bananas.

Where do bananas come from

As before, Ecuador supplies the bulk of bananas to Russia - about 1 million tons per year. This country has an ideal climate for growing bananas, and the number of plantations there is off the charts. Some of them have already been bought by our Russian entrepreneurs who supply their products to Russia. Bananas are brought to Russia green, then they undergo a gasification procedure and are already yellow on the counter. The cost of grown bananas is low, so Ecuador is the leader among suppliers. It is followed by China and Türkiye.

Benefits of a banana

Due to its high nutritional value, a banana belongs to high-calorie dishes, but at the same time it is considered a dietary fruit. It contains a large number of enzymes, and in combination they improve digestion. Banana is rich in vitamin C, although it does not taste sour at all. Ascorbic acid is a powerful antioxidant that slows down the aging process. Vitamin A is necessary for good vision, normal heart function, and B vitamins are responsible for the condition of the skin, hair and nails. It is for this reason that banana is often included in hair masks, it adds shine to hair and prevents split ends. This is probably why residents of the “banana countries” have gorgeous hair, from where bananas are brought to Russia.

Magnesium and potassium, which are part of this familiar fruit, help the work of the heart, liver and brain. If you combine a sports lifestyle and actively include bananas in your diet, you can easily build muscle mass. In addition, it is able to increase sexual activity not only in men, but also in women. In Ecuador, from where bananas are brought to Russia, residents use it every day and cook all kinds of dishes from it.

Do bananas grow in Russia?

In our country, bananas can be found not only in botanical gardens. A little south of the city of Sochi grows the northernmost banana of the Basio variety, or it is also called Japanese. It has edible red fruits, but, unfortunately, in our harsh conditions they do not ripen. By winter, the green part of the grass dies off, and by spring, new ones grow actively from growth points, up to 2.5 meters long, 60 cm wide. It is also worth noting that over the past few years, some varieties of bananas have been grown on the southern coast of the Crimean peninsula. Maybe in the future the supplier will be not only Ecuador, where bananas are brought to Russia, but also the Crimea?

banana dishes

This exotic fruit, it turned out, is eaten not only fresh. In countries where bananas are brought to Russia , it is fried, baked and dried. In addition, for its sweet taste, it was attributed to dessert products, so a banana is added to confectionery and served with ice cream. In Latin America, slices of fried banana are a common side dish. In Venezuela, yo-yo is considered a national dish - soft cheese, fixed with a wooden stick between fried banana slices. And the inhabitants of the Philippines cook ketchup from bananas with the addition of all kinds of spices.

Bananas are among the most popular and edible fruits in the world. They were first grown in tropical India and Southeast Asia over 4,000 years ago. Arab merchants brought them to North Africa and the Middle East. Portuguese sailors saw bananas while sailing down the Atlantic coast of Africa. Bananas were brought from Africa to the Canary Islands, from where the Spaniards brought them to the New World.

What do banana plantations look like?

Although bananas grow like trees, they are actually plants made up of stems covered with overlapping leaves. The stem or stem can be about 30 centimeters thick. Banana trees grow up to 6 meters tall and have long, broad leaves up to 20 centimeters. Banana fruits grow in clusters of 10-20 pieces. Bananas grow in well-drained soil in countries with a tropical climate and adequate rainfall. Most often, bananas grow on plantations and are cared for by hundreds of workers who cultivate and harvest the fruits for the world market. These farms sell their products to big companies like Chiquita and Dole.

The first fruits of bananas grow about a year after planting. Bananas do not like low temperatures, below zero and strong winds. Diseases such as "Panama" and various infections in the soil can destroy the banana crop.

Harvest

Bananas are harvested green. In this state, the banana pulp is white in color and is completely unsuitable for food. Green fruits are brought to the nearest port, where they are placed in cooling containers.

When the bananas arrive at their destination, they are unloaded onto trucks or rail cars and transported to sellers who store them in special cells. It takes five days for bananas to ripen and turn yellow. The pulp of a ripe banana becomes sweet.

Banana diet food

In many tropical regions of Africa, South America and Asia, bananas serve as the main food for the population. They contain a sufficient amount of useful nutrients that people really need. In addition to being 75% water, a banana contains sugars, proteins, and vitamins, and is fairly easily absorbed by the body.

Bananas are considered a healthy food all over the world. They contain potassium, which can lower blood pressure, prevent heart disease, and reduce the risk of stroke. In the West, bananas are eaten as a snack between meals. In other countries they are used to make wine or beer.

banana types

There are up to a thousand various kinds bananas. The typical commercial bananas that are most widely distributed are unripe Cavendish varieties. Banana variety "Plantain" (Plantains), used for cooking.

The value of banana culture

Bananas are the fourth most valuable food crop in the world after wheat, rice and corn. They have importance for the tropical economies. About 140 million tons of bananas are harvested annually, but only a small percentage of the actual production is exported. The largest banana-producing countries actually need them themselves.

India is the world's largest banana producer, followed by Uganda, China, the Philippines, Ecuador and Brazil.

Banana trade

The banana trade brings the industry up to $5 billion today. Companies such as Chiquita and Dole control much of the banana export industry. In Central America and the Caribbean, workers suffer from poor working conditions and low wages.

For decades, EU countries have chosen to buy bananas from Africa and the Caribbean, subjecting them to duties. In 2009, the banana war came to an end.

Banana (lat. Musa) is an important agricultural crop. In many countries, bananas are eaten as a main dish and can replace other products that are similar in nutritional value. For example, plantains, an unsweetened variety of bananas with a high starch content, are used in Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia as an alternative to potatoes. Despite the fact that in the states of Europe and North America banana is not so much one of the main food elements as a dessert, the fruit markets of these countries are highly dependent on the import of these fruits. The largest banana exporting countries are Ecuador, the Philippines, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Colombia.

India is traditionally the leader in terms of banana production, followed by China. However, these countries grow bananas for the domestic market and practically do not export their own products. A similar situation is observed in Brazil, Indonesia and Angola. Thus, despite the fact that there are banana plantations in many countries, only the states of South America are export-oriented, while most Asian and African farmers sell their products on domestic markets.

In late 2013, growers were alarmed by news of a fungus causing root rot in banana plants. In the 50s of the XX century. one of the varieties of this fungus almost completely destroyed the main export variety of that time, Gros Michel. According to experts, a new disease could cause irreparable damage to the Cavendish variety, which accounts for about 90% of world banana exports. Strains of this fungus have been found on banana plantations in China, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and some other countries. After hitting plantations in Southeast Asia, the banana fungus began to spread to the Middle East and Africa. The soils of Latin America remain uncontaminated so far.

Experts of the company "Intesco Research Group" build various forecasts regarding the further spread of this fungus. If its strains are localized in Asian countries, a decrease in the production of the Cavendish variety will lead to an increase in import demand for bananas from these countries and, accordingly, to an increase in world prices. If the fungus spreads to Latin America, this could lead to the cessation of production of the main export variety of bananas and the actual collapse of the global banana market.

The situation with the spread of banana fungus has not yet affected Russian market, to which bananas are supplied mainly from Ecuador.

Companies supplying bananas to the world market

On March 10, 2014, the world's largest banana trading company "Chiquita" and one of the main suppliers of bananas to the European market "Fyffes" announced a merger and formed new company"ChiquitaFyffes", which has become the leader in the global banana market. ChiquitaFyffes controls 18.7% of the world's banana exports. The shares of its main competitors - "del Monte" and "Dole" - in 2013 amounted to 12.2% and 11.4%, respectively. Chiquita shipped mainly to the US (61% of its sales in this country), while Fyffes, headquartered in Ireland, shipped bananas mainly to Europe (81% of its sales) . After the merger, 47% of operations began to be made in the USA, 46% - in Europe, the remaining 7% - in other markets.

The main goal of the merger between Chiquita and Fyffes is to increase efficiency and save on procurement and logistics costs. ChiquitaFyffes' impact on the banana market will be more felt in the US market, where its sales are concentrated. In the European market, competition among importers is much more intense; Dole and Del Monte are the next most important European companies after ChiquitaFyffes. Multinational trading companies, especially the likes of "Chiquita", "Dole" and "Fresh del Monte", have historically played a major role in international trade bananas. In the 1980s these three companies controlled about 65.3% of the world's banana exports; however, by 2013 their share had dropped to 36.6%.

Share largest companies in world exports of bananas (by physical volume), %

Source: FAO.

Over the past decade, the nature of the involvement of multinational companies in the global banana trade has changed significantly. In the past, these companies have owned numerous plantations in Central and South America, as well as in other regions where bananas are grown. From the 1980s, they began to sell off plantations and increase purchases from independent growers. The production phase-out was largely driven by changes in the extent and nature of control over the supply chain by various market participants. Major supermarket chains in the US and EU have become important players in their own right in the global banana trade as they dominate retail markets in major banana consuming countries and increasingly purchase fruit from small wholesalers or directly from farmers. The shift in focus from large wholesalers to retailers was also driven by the establishment of reliable transportation systems from South America to Europe and Russia using specialized vessels and modern port infrastructure. Moreover, there is a trend towards an increase in the number of exporting companies in countries producing bananas. For example, in Ecuador in 2004, the market was dominated by three companies, Noboa, Dole and Reybanpac, but by 2013 their combined specific gravity decreased significantly and amounted to only 23%. In 2011-2012 the number of registered banana exporters in the country increased from 181 to 333.

FAO on the global banana market

Export. In 2012, global banana exports reached a record high of 16.5 million tons, up 7.3% from 2011. This growth is due primarily to increased shipments from Latin America and the Caribbean, despite a poor harvest in Ecuador. Ecuador is traditionally considered the largest exporter of bananas in the world, but in 2012 a flood damaged the crop, resulting in a decrease in production by 416 thousand tons (or 5.6%). The decrease in export shipments from Ecuador by 410 thousand tons was offset by their expansion from other countries, especially from Central African.

Overall, 2012 saw a further decline in exports from South America and an increase from Central America and Mexico. In 2011, shipments from South America decreased by 6.4%, from Central America and Mexico - increased by 22.1%. The average share of South America in world banana exports decreased from 50.2% in 2007-2011. up to 43.6% in 2012; the share of Central America and Mexico, on the contrary, increased from 29.4% to 33.4%.

The largest US banana exporting countries are Costa Rica, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Peru. Colombian banana shipments declined in 2012, mainly due to the spread of moco disease (bacterial wilt). Peru is one of the most dynamically developing exporters: if in 2000 bananas from this country were practically not exported, then in 2012 shipments reached 124 thousand tons. ”) and organic bananas grown by smallholder associations.

In the middle of summer 2014, about 15 thousand hectares of banana plantations in northern Colombia were affected by a storm and heavy rains; more than 4 thousand hectares were completely destroyed. As a result, banana prices have risen in all Latin American countries.

Among the Caribbean countries, the Dominican Republic is the largest exporter; from 2000 to 2011, there was an active growth in the export of bananas from this country, for which they remain the main export commodity. Other Caribbean countries export only small amounts, which last years are gradually decreasing. Shipments from Jamaica ceased after 2008; the bananas grown there are now supplied exclusively to the domestic market.

Exports from Asian countries increased significantly in Lately. After a sharp decline in 2006-2010, caused by a drop in shipments from the Philippines, it increased by 25.6% in 2011, and by 27.1% in 2012. As a result, the Philippines has become the world's second largest banana exporter after Ecuador.

Global banana supplies in 2013 were adversely affected by crop declines in Ecuador and the Philippines. In Ecuador, planting area continued to decline from 200,000 ha in January 2012 to 171,000 ha in February 2013, reflecting in particular the pessimistic mood of Ecuadorian producers, due to the fact that almost all other banana exporters to the EU market enjoy the benefits of a preferential customs tariff, while banana importers from Ecuador continue to pay duty on tariff rate most favored nation (MFN, most-favoured-nation). In the Philippines, adverse weather adversely affected banana production in 2013, with about a quarter of all plantation area damaged by Typhoon Bopha in December 2012. Supplies to the EU from Central America and Colombia remained strong; this was facilitated by the reduction of customs duties.

From January to April 2014, the export of bananas from Ecuador increased by 17% compared to the same period of the previous year, to 102.8 million boxes. About 26 million boxes of bananas were sent from the port of Puerto Bolívar during this period (7% more than in January-April 2013).

World export of bananas in distribution by countries, thousand tons

Source: FAO.

At the beginning of this year, in the face of falling world oil prices, the government of Ecuador carried out a reform that provides for an increase in the tax burden in various industries, including banana production. As Ecuadorian exporters predict, as a result of this reform, banana prices in Ecuador will increase and exceed the level of competitors from other Latin American countries.

Import. The world's largest importers of bananas are the EU and the US. In 2012, their shares in total imports amounted to 27% each, the share of Russia reached 8%, Japan - 7%, China - 4%.

Weak demand in the EU had a significant impact on the global banana market in 2012. This affected many suppliers, most notably Ecuador, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic. The decrease in import demand was caused primarily by the expansion of banana production in the EU (from 612 thousand tons in 2011 to 649 thousand tons in 2012), as well as a decrease in per capita consumption (from 10.4 kg in 2011 to 10.2 kg in 2012). Moreover, the growth of the dollar against the euro contributed to limiting the demand for bananas “for dollars”. Only Peru, Belize and Ghana were able to increase the supply of bananas to the EU.

World imports of bananas in distribution by country, thousand tons

Source: FAO.

In Europe, bananas are grown in the Canary Islands (Spain), Guadeloupe and Martinique (French overseas departments), Cyprus, Greece and Portugal. In 2012, the production of bananas in the Canary Islands increased by 24 thousand tons, in Guadeloupe and Martinique - by 9 thousand tons compared to the previous year. Overall, bananas grown in the EU account for about 12.6% of all regional consumption.

At the same time, the share of imports subject to the MFN tariff is approximately 68.3%, bananas imported into the EU from Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific region - 19.1%. Banana imports to the USA, on the contrary, showed a positive trend in 2012. Per capita banana consumption in the country increased from 11.6 kg in 2010 to 13.2 kg in 2011 and 13.8 kg in 2012. Banana supplies to the United States from Ecuador in 2012 decreased significantly - by 18 % (or 159 thousand tons), primarily as a result of a decrease in production in this country. This reduction was offset by an increase in imports from Central America and Mexico (by 326 thousand tons), as well as from Colombia and Honduras.

Import prices for bananas. EU average banana import prices increased from 604 €/t in 2011 to 623 €/t in 2012. This increase was primarily driven by the strengthening of the dollar against the euro, while demand remained low. In dollar terms, prices, on the contrary, decreased from $840 to $801.

In the US, as a result of strong demand, import prices reached a record high of $984/t in 2012, up 1.7% from the previous year. Prices were especially high in February, March and April 2012, exceeding $1,000/t. In 2013, prices stabilized at a lower level compared to 2012. In the first six months of 2013, they were 7.4% lower than the same period of the previous year ($923/t), but still remained well above the average level of imported prices in the EU, although there has been an upward trend in some countries, such as France._

In Japan, import prices for bananas fell by 4.9% from 67,250 yen/t in 2011 to 63,983 yen/t in 2012. The country has traditionally experienced marked seasonal price fluctuations, with prices nearly a third higher in April and May than in January and February. In China, on the contrary, average import prices increased from $490/t in 2011 to $599/t in 2012.

Trade and political aspects of the functioning of the global banana market

Negotiations between the EU and Latin America regarding the trade in bananas (the longest negotiations in the history of the WTO, which began in 1992) ended on November 8, 2012 with the signing of the Geneva Agreement on Banana Trade. The key point of this agreement was the level of EU basic tariffs (MFN) on bananas. In 2009, the EU reduced its import tariff from 176 EUR/t to 148 EUR/t. By 2017-2019 it should decrease to 114 euro/t.

In response to the MFN tariff cut on bananas European Union The US and Latin American countries have agreed to drop all lawsuits against the EU in the WTO Dispute Settlement Body and not to demand any further rate cuts on agricultural commodities in the Doha Round talks. With an average import price of €623/t in 2012, the MFN tariff of €136/t was equivalent to an ad valorem duty of 21.8%.

European MFN Tariff Reduction Schedule under the Banana Trade Agreement