Dominican organic banana exports to EU decline nearly 17% despite growing demand

The Dominican Republic, once the top supplier of organic bananas to the European Union, has seen its exports drop by 16.9% over the past three years, according to official data from the Dirección General de Aduanas (DGA).

Shipments to the EU fell from $128.7 million in 2022 to $106.8 million in 2024, with producers citing pest outbreaks and climate-related disruptions as key challenges affecting production. These include extreme weather events that have become more frequent and damaging, putting increasing strain on plantations and infrastructure.

Despite this decline, EU trade officials still see significant opportunity for Dominican growers. Luis Araque de Juan, head of the commercial section of the EU delegation in the Dominican Republic, highlighted that consumer demand for organic products in Europe continues to rise.

“We want to keep receiving Dominican organic bananas,” he said. “The market is expanding, and the Dominican Republic is well positioned to benefit from that growth.”

Over the past three years, $354.3 million worth of Dominican organic bananas have been traded within the European market. However, the country, which led the category in 2018, now ranks as the second-largest exporter, behind Ecuador, which has held the top spot since 2019.

Facing a difficult production environment, Dominican banana growers are calling for greater support from the government to help stabilise the sector and restore growth.

source: diariolibre.com

photo: organto.com