Ecuador displaces Guatemala and crowns itself as the largest banana exporter

Ecuador has consolidated its position as the world's leading exporter of fresh plantain, reaching a 31% share of the global market between January and September 2024. The country displaced Guatemala to second place with a 28% share, while Colombia was in third place with 15%. In total, Ecuador exported 217,609 tons of fresh plantain, generating revenues of $133.91 million.

The main destination of these exports is the United States, with 65% of the total, followed by Chile (8.5%) and Spain (7.8%). Ecuador exports fresh plantains in several varieties, such as barraganete, hartón, hawaiano, burro, maqueño and dominico. The stability of Ecuadorian supply, in contrast to the global drop in plantain exports since 2020, has been key to this leadership.

By 2023, Ecuador had already shown significant growth, with exports of 363,000 tons and sales of $213 million. With an annual growth of 15.5%, the country has managed to remain stable while other competitors, such as Guatemala and Colombia, have faced reductions in production.

source: forbes.com.ec

photo: eluniverso.com