Banana monthly review: December 2019

Volumes exported by the dollar origins to Europe proved to be below-average again. Although Ecuador began its seasonal increase from early December, combined volumes remained below average (- 10 %). Ecuadorian exports to other markets are still in structural growth. Colombia maintained its downward trend, at near-average levels (- 1 %), as did Costa Rica. The supply from Africa maintained its seasonal fall, with levels slightly above average. With combined Ivorian and Ghanaian volumes offsetting the Cameroonian shortfall, the total African supply was 5 % above average. Regarding the French West Indies, volumes remained stable overall, and still much smaller than in 2015 (the last non-cyclone year), i.e. - 33 %. Demand was sufficient to absorb the volumes entering the EC market. Prices strengthened at the start of the month, thanks to fairly dynamic sales on the export market. At the end of the month, as ever at this time of year, sales slowed down and prices stabilised (5 % above average). In this context the end-of-year stocks were moderate. The Spanish market alone was exposed to heavy volumes, from the Canaries (11 % above average), and prices continued to fall, albeit maintaining above-average levels.

banana - EU - average green price in december 2019