In 2020 the European market imported fewer bananas from Africa

EU countries imported fewer bananas in 2020 from Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana. These producing countries have increased their shipments to the markets of neighboring countries.

 

 

 

In 2020, EU countries imported just under 600,000 tonnes of bananas from Africa, a decline of around 3% compared to 2019. By country, the decline in exports to the EU reached 3% for Côte d'Ivoire, 4% for Cameroon and 9% for Ghana.

 

 

 

According to sector specialists, several factors explain this drop in volumes exported to the European market. Logistical disruptions linked to the health crisis, the closure of the HoReCa sector in Europe which restricted demand, unfavorable weather conditions in several production areas which limited the volumes produced.

 

 

 

As an alternative to EU markets, African producers have turned to local markets. Thus, Côte Ivoire has increased its shipments to several neighboring countries (Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal).

 

 

 

All the ACP (Africa-Caribbean-Pacific) countries put on the market just over 1 million tonnes of bananas. For these ACP origins, the main market is Europe.