In the Colombian banana industry expects an increase of 5% in volume of exports through 2024 despite a reduction in the amount of land of plantation. As per the Dr. Emerson Aguirre Medina, President of the Colombian Banana Growers Association (Augura), “For this year considering the increased exports that was observed in January and February as well as the effect caused by the lower rainfall levels that was observed in January as well and that will show up in mid-April, we anticipate to finish 2024 with an increase of five percent in the quantity that we export.”

Last season (2023) the total number of exports was more than 106 million boxes with a amount of US969 million were sold in comparison to 2022’s season, where there were 108 million boxes, worth US891 million dollars were purchased. The main production areas in Colombia are Uraba which has 64 million boxes and Magdalena as well as Guajira that have 42 millions boxes.

The top destinations for exports of Colombian bananas is those in the European Union that receives 68 percent of the volume which is followed by United States with 16% of the total volume, as well as the United Kingdom with 15% of the total volume. Colombia is expected to increase volumes in all the markets in year’s 2024 harvest season.

But, there’s decreased the amount of plantations of bananas in Colombia. It is believed that the El Nino weather phenomenon has had a significant impact as per the Dr. Aguirre. This year, Colombia decreased the number of banana-planting hectares by 52,209 ha, which is a decrease of 1109 hectares as compared to 2022, where 53,318 acres were recorded. Although there was a slight decrease in the quantity of boxes that were exported however, the high-quality was not compromised at an average of 2,023 boxes per hectare in the time period that was studied.

“It is the product of a variety of factors. One is climatic issues as well as the increase in pressure from sigatoka black on these acres. Then, the decrease in productivity, to the point that they’re away from returning to the point where they can be feasible. That’s why this decline has occurred,” concludes Dr. Aguirre.

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Dr. Emerson Aguirre Medina

Colombian Banana Growers Association

Email: Presidente@augura.com.co