Banana Plague: More Restrictions in the RegionThursday, July 18, 2019 Following Panama's decision, the phytosanitary authorities in Guatemala and Costa Rica restricted the entry of banana and plantain-derived materials from any country because of the alert for the pest known as "wilt for fusarium.” In the case of Guatemala, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA) reported that as part of the protection and preservation of the regional agricultural heritage, the Guatemalan population and national banana and plantain producers were informed that Guatemala had activated prevention and warning measures to prevent the threat of Fusarium Oxysporum race 4 disease. Costa Rica: Banana Earnings ClimbMonday, February 20, 2012 Banana producer’s incomes were around $640 million in 2011, a period in which there were 3.8 million more boxes than in 2010. Banana producers in Costa Rica earned at least a $639.84 million in 2011, according to specialists linked to the sector. Project to Reactivate Banana ProductionFriday, October 6, 2017 In Panama, $13 million were approved to sign lease agreements with landowners where Del Monte will reactivate banana production in Barú, Chiriquí. With the disbursement approved by the Cabinet Council, part of the contracts to lease farms may be signed so that Banapiña, a subsidiary of Del Monte, can start the process reactivating banana production in Barú. Retailers try to keep banana prices downFriday, January 16, 2009 It’s a dilemma that would make even the most sane, well-meaning retailer go … well … bananas. By all accounts, the cost of bananas to retailers is going up. Flooding in Ecuador dating back to last February, along with weather issues and a recent earthquake in Costa Rica have contributed to significant reductions in global supply. Banana Reactivation Project Makes Progress in PanamaMonday, May 7, 2018 Due to the delay in approval of the environmental permit, in the first stage of the project, the subsidiary of Del Monte will cultivate 650 hectares of banana, instead of the 970 hectares originally planned. Prensa.com reports that "... The company Banapiña de Panamá, a subsidiary of Del Monte, imported 1.2 million meristems from Costa Rica, of the banana variety "gran naim", to begin the cultivation process at the end of this month." Banana Export Revenues UpMonday, January 30, 2012 Despite lower volume exported in 2011 by Panama, sales revenues abroad grew by 30% compared to 2010. Last year 13.2 million cartons of green banana were sold and the value of exports from Panama increased by 30%, thanks to an improvement in international prices and productivity, said Roberto Santamaria, director of the Banana Program at the Ministry Agricultural Development.
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Banana: Regional Sales Exceed $2 BillionTuesday, March 23, 2021 Between January and September 2020, banana exports amounted to $2,079 million, 11% more than what was reported in the same period of 2019, a rise that is explained by the behavior of sales of Honduran, Panamanian, Costa Rican and Guatemalan companies. Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"] Central American Banana Trade GrowingThursday, February 15, 2018 From January to September 2017, countries in the region exported $1.92 billion worth of bananas, 9% more than was sold abroad in the same period in 2016. Figures from the Information System on the fresh or dried banana market in Central America compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [Figure caption = "Click to interact with the graphic"] Guatemala: $5 million for Banana ProductionTuesday, March 13, 2018 With a loan from the IDB, the Agricultural Company El Siglo will finance cultivation of 475 hectares of banana, a production which will be used for export. The financing granted by BID Invest will allow the company to leverage its operations and develop more growth in less time. It is expected that at least 475 rural direct jobs will be generated, which is equivalent to one direct job for each hectare planted. Bananas: Details of a $100 million InvestmentFriday, April 28, 2017 Part of the $100 million that Del Monte will invest in reviving production in Chiriquí and Bocas del Toro will be used to build irrigation systems and infrastructure for packaging and exporting fruit. The National Assembly approved the agreement between the Panamanian state and Banapiña S.A., a subsidiary of Del Monte, which will invest $100 million in reviving banana production in Chiriquí Grande in Bocas del Toro and in Barú and Alanje in Chiriquí.
MARKET STUDY
Costa Rica: Main Banana Exporter in Central America in 2020Monday, August 2, 2021 In 2020, the main exporter of fresh or dried bananas in Central America was Costa Rica, with $1,083 million, followed by Guatemala, with $930 million, Honduras, with $531 million, Panama with $152 million and Nicaragua with $23 million. Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Click to interact with the graphic"] Honduras: Banana Productivity Up 21%Tuesday, March 11, 2014 Improvements in production processes and regeneration of plantations have led to a significant increase in crop yields. The Honduran fruit increased its export rates by 20.6% according to figures issued by the Central Bank of Honduras (BCH), with the United States being the main buyer of fruit. Latin America Accepts EU's Proposal on Banana TariffWednesday, November 18, 2009 The proposal accepted by Latin American banana producers lowers the tariff from 176 to 114 euros per ton. It will be gradually lowered until 2017. Standard Fruit to Close Banana Plantations in HondurasFriday, April 9, 2010 The transnational corporation announced it will close 13 banana plantations in Central Coyoles. Standard Fruit explained that these plantations are unprofitable and they are no longer sustainable. The company operated them since 1925. Panamanian Government Will Liquidate CoosemuparWednesday, February 10, 2010 Ipacoop, Panama’s cooperatives authority, decided to liquidate Coosemupar. Coosemupar, a Banana growing cooperative intervened in 2004 for administrative irregularities, was looking for a company to acquire or invest in it. |
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