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Agriculture
BANANA PROFILE IN ECUADOR
Total exports:
1,995,423.98 (2009); 780,479.50 (January-April 2010)
in thousands USD
Main markets:
Russia (24%), EEUU (23%), Italy (18%), Germany
(10%)
¿Did you know that 3 of every 10 bananas consumed
in the World come from Ecuador?
Ecuador is the first exporter and the fourth producer of
bananas in the world with an experience of more than
50 years in the production and exportation of this fruit.
Thanks to the climatic conditions in the country, Ecua-
dor has a permanent offer of bananas during 52 weeks
throughout a year, which comply with the highest qual-
ity standards. The country has 180,000 cultivated hec-
tares in nine provinces of Ecuador, of which the Rios,
Oro and Guayas are the most important ones.
The most exported products are Cavendish Valery and
Williams. In addition, the country has an exportable
range of other fresh musas, such as the orito “baby
banana” and purple “red banana”.
The export sector is now guilded by the Association
of Banana Exporters of Ecuador, AEBE, which repre-
sents about 90 percent of the total export volume of
the country. In case you need more information on the
AEBE, you should visit its web site: www.aebe.ce
Development
The banana industry is one of the main sectors in terms
of income generation after the oil industry, representing
3.84% of the total GDP of Ecuador, 50% of agricultural
GDP and 20% of the private exports of the country. In
addition, this sector generates 12% of the total employ-
ment, generating both direct and indirect jobs.
The banana industry is in the process of continuous im-
provement. In recent years, there have been achieved
different prestigious certifications, such as GlobalGap
and Rain Forest Alliance, among others. In the same
way the guild exporter (AEBE) is in a process of de-
velopment and implementation of a stamp of Social
Responsibility.
As it has been already mentioned, the organic agricul-
ture has experienced significant growth in Ecuador.
According to the latest information provided by the
German Technical Cooperation GTZ in December of
2007, there are already approximately 17,700 certified
hectares of banana plantations in Ecuador. In case you
need further information, please find Organic Agricul-
ture in Ecuador and the basis of the exportable organic
offer.
Exports and main markets
Ecuador exported 5,057,073 tons of bananas in 2007,
representing a total value of $1,250,944 USD, accord-
ing to the official figures of the Central Bank of Ecuador.
The main export markets are the Mediterranean with
24.11%, Russia with 23.03% of the North/Baltic with
20.04%, United States with 18.20%, Southern Cone
with 6.63%, Middle East with 2.38% and Eastern Eu-
rope with 2.12%, among the most important ones.
According to data provided by the Association of Ba-
nana Exporters of Ecuador AEBE, the major exporting
companies of bananas, taking into consideration the pe-
riod: January-September of 2008, are Ubesa (13.27%),
Bananera Noboa (12.06%), Reybanpac (7.98%), Bo-
nanza Fruit (7.56%), Kimtech (6.60%), Cipal (5.51%),
SWT Traders (5.09%), Banafresh (3.92%), Forza Frut
(3.73%), Brundicorpi (3.14%)
The Ecuadorian banana is exported under various
brands, being Dole, Bonita, Bonanza, Del Monte, Sun-
way, Excelban, Favorite, Don Carlos, Prima Donna,
Forza, Derby, Le Fruit, Adria, Sabrostar the most well-
known ones.
By-products
There are several elaborated products that are produced
on the basis of orito and bananas, such as mashed,
dehydrated, dust, flakes, flour, jams, chifles, bananas
covered with chocolate, among others. They can be de-
veloped both with conventional and organic fruit. Within
the most important processing companies are the follow-
ing ones: Confoco, Inborja, Futurcorp, PEBSA, Exotic
Blends, B2B, Ecofrut, Banalight, Indartbio, etc.
Workermanipulating thebananas