Trade pattern (Banana)

Export pattern

Banana Production

Around 98% of world output of banana is contributed by developing countries. At the same time developed countries provide the market for the export of banana. In 2005, a total of 130 countries produced bananas. However, production, as well as exports of bananas were highly concentrated in a few countries. The 10 leading banana producing countries accounted for about 76.33 percent of total banana production in 2005. India, Ecuador, Brazil, Philippines and China alone produced more than half of global output. While the Latin American and Caribbean regions dominated in banana production till the eighties, the Asian region emerged as the leader in banana production during the nineties.

India is the largest producer with 24 percent of world output followed by Brazil (9%), China (9%), Philippines (9%), Ecuador (8%), Indonesia (6%), Mexico (3%) and Costa Rica (3%). The remaining 122 countries contributed 29 percent of the world output. The following pie diagram shows the pattern of banana production in the world during 2005.

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Global exports

Country-wise export of banana in the world during 2005

The five leading banana exporting countries consisting of Ecuador, Philippines, Costa Rica, Colombia and Gautemala accounted for 69 percent of world exports in 2005. Ecuador alone provided more than 29 percent of global banana exports. It is significant to note that the above mentioned five countries were the leading banana exporters during the period 2000 to 2005. The following pie diagram shows the share of leading exporters of bananas in terms of quantity during 2005.

Source: ITC calculations based on COMTRADE statistics

India's Export

Although India happens to be the largest producer of bananas, her share in export is negligible. Of the total export of 167.84 lakh tonnes in the world in 2005, India's share was only 14411 tonnes which constituted 0.85% of the total. Indian exports have risen from 8629 tonnes in 2000-01 to 14,411 tonnes in 2005-06. The corresponding increase in value was from Rs. 18 crores in 2000-01 to Rs. 11.71 crores in 2003-04. It went up to Rs. 23.36 crores in 2005-06.

The following table shows India's export of bananas in terms of quantity and value during 2000-01 to 2006-07.

Export of bananas from India during 2000-01 to 2006-07

The following bar diagram shows India's export of bananas during 2000-01 to 2006-07.

Although India has tremendous potential in banana exports, the country has not attempted so far to expand the export market in a significant way. The main drawback in market development was the lack of sustainability in export supply. The recent efforts to establish Agri-Export Zones will have positive impact on the export of banana if few AEZ projects are focussed on banana exports.

Last updated: 16-1-2008