Banana monthly review: September 2022

After an already positive trend in August, with limited stocks, performances in September were spectacular. The overall supply remained far below average, especially because of the big shortfall in terms of Ecuadorian shipments (around -10 %), though not solely for that reason. Despite the seasonal increase, Colombian volumes also remained below average, and the overall African supply registered a level 5 % below average. Costa Rica maintained a barely average level. Only the French West Indies recorded an above-average performance (+16 %), though of course this was insufficient to offset the shortfall from the other origins. Regarding demand, the launch of the new school year promotions from the start of the month increased the ripening centre output tempo. Hence the tension rose by a notch, with free market prices reaching historically high levels at an average price of €16.57/box, 47 % above average and 43 % higher than in 2021.