Ecuador sets banana export record in 2020

Despite the pandemic, Ecuador managed to set a new banana export record reaching 380 million boxes in 2020.

The export figure represents a 7 percent increase in volume and 15 percent increase in value when compared to 2019, as reported by Vistazo.

Main destinations for Ecuadorian bananas were the European Union, Russia, the Middle East, the United States, and East Asia.

Shipments to these markets helped sustain the Ecuadorian economy during last year’s harsh environment due to the pandemic, which affected national production and suspended oil exports due to damages pipelines.

Marianela Ubilla, president of the board of the Association of Banana Exporters of Ecuador (AEBE), said “the 2020 figures are positive as a result of the unit and the efforts we make with our entire value chain.”

Because several countries who imported the Ecuadorian fruit dealt with economic problems, this generated less demand for the fruit or lower prices. However, the sector managed to push ahead.

“We were able to bring together more of the union and the formalization of the sector through the Ecuadorian banana cluster, which based on a strategic agenda and the associativity of the productive chain, we managed to execute 60 actions of mutual benefit,” Ubilla said.

Awards were given during the union’s anniversary event, with awards given out to affiliate companies for their trajectory and contribution to the sector, with several government entities decorating the AEBE.

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