The highly positive market trend moved up a gear in April. However spring-like weather finally arrived, helping the seasonal fruit campaigns, which after starting behind schedule, to make decent progress. However, banana sales maintained good vitality across the markets. It was the unexpected fall in the overall supply which was behind the growing tension. The African and dollar supplies fell below average for the season (- 4 % and - 6 % respectively) for the first time this year; with the end of the Colombian peak, Ecuadorian and Costa Rican supply down to less than in 2016, logistical concerns in Côte d’Ivoire, and strong winds in Cameroon. So green banana prices continued to strengthen, regaining average levels for the first time this year.
In May, the supply gap started to narrow, with volumes back to near-average levels for the season. The combined Africa-French West Indies supply returned to average with the gradual end of the FWI shortfall, and African volumes back to levels 10 % above average. Meanwhile, dollar banana imports were closer to average after the trough in April (Colombian and Costa Rican decline offset by Ecuadorian increase). Nonetheless, the market remained tight at the beginning of the month, with sales maintaining very good fluidity (temperatures falling again, seasonal fruits still uncompetitive), while green banana prices continued to strengthen, contrary to the seasonal trend, until stabilising at the end of the month.
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