Demand on the various European markets maintained a very good level. The absence of competing fruits and the persistent cold contributed to maintaining good banana sales. The launch of promotions on certain markets also contributed to keeping sales going. However, despite some ongoing shortfalls, the supply started to rise. Shipments from the French West Indies remained well below average (- 57 %) due to Cyclone Maria. Despite the incipient increase, African shipments were below-average (- 10 %), because of the ongoing shortfall from Cameroon, which the increasing volumes from Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana were unable to offset. As for the dollar banana supply, it rose throughout the month, with the end of the Colombian shortfall, the beginning of the seasonal increase from Ecuador and stable Costa Rican volumes, bigger than in 2017. Most of all, the ongoing logistical problems, which fostered a feeling of under-supply at the beginning of the month, upset the market as the supply rose, with deferred volumes becoming available at certain ports. Hence prices started to drop toward the end of the month, in particular on the East European markets where availability increased with re-exports from Western Europe on the rise. Spot market prices started to fall, though they maintained record levels for the season (13 % above average). In Russia, in spite of the rising supply, green banana prices reached record levels given the good demand and ongoing logistical disruptions.
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