Between January and September 2020, banana exports amounted to $2,079 million, 11% more than what was reported in the same period of 2019, a rise that is explained by the behavior of sales of Honduran, Panamanian, Costa Rican and Guatemalan companies.

Costa Rica and Guatemala, Main Exporters
From January to September 2020 the main exporter of fresh or dried bananas in Central America was Costa Rica, with $823 million, followed by Guatemala, with $725 million, Honduras, with $418 million, Panama with $106 million and Nicaragua with $17 million.

During the first nine months of 2020, Honduran exports increased 23% year-on-year, Panamanian exports increased 17%, Costa Rican exports increased 9% and Guatemalan exports increased 2%. Nicaragua’s foreign sales fell 5%.

Regional Business Increases
Between the first nine months of 2019 and the same period of 2020, the value of banana exports rose 11%, from $1.87 billion to $2.079 billion.

In the case of exports made by the region to the U.S. also grew for the periods in question, going from $1,214 million to $1,358 million.

U.S., Main Buyer
From January to September 2020, 65% of the value exported from Central America was destined for the U.S., 10% for the Netherlands, 4% for the United Kingdom, 3% for Belgium, 3% for Italy, 2% for Germany, 2% for Spain and 1% for Portugal.

The Netherlands is the destination market for Central American exports that has grown the most for the period in question in recent years, since in 2012 it accounted for less than 0.5% of sales and last year that proportion rose to 10%.

Export Price Increases
During 2020, the average price of Central American banana sales abroad has shown a slight upward trend, rising from $0.38 per kilo in January to $0.42 in September.

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