Organic banana surge in the USA

Over the first 5 months of 2021, organic banana imports into the USA registered a 5 % rise from the same period of 2020, at 16 % above the two-year average. Imports reached nearly 234 000 tonnes between January and May 2021. While growth seems less steep than in 2020 (when organic banana imports saw a 20 % increase from the previous year), it nonetheless remains highly positive, in spite of the downturn by the main organic banana supplier to the US market, Ecuador (- 4 %), whose production suffered at the beginning of the year from the effects of the La Niña phenomenon, and volcanic ash deposits. Growth was underpinned by the ongoing Mexican boom on this market, registering a performance of + 20 % on 2020, with Colombia following suit (+ 27 %). Only Peru saw a continuing decrease, with the sector exhibiting a clear overall slowdown in the face of rapidly progressing and competitive rivals.

While over this same period the conventional banana experienced a shortfall from the Central American suppliers (Honduras and Guatemala), due to the damage caused by Cyclones Eta and Iota, the market share of the organic banana continued to rise in the USA, to reach 12 %.

organic banana - USA - total imports

organic banana - USA - imports