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Bananas

Commodity in focus

Bananas are among the most produced, traded and consumed fruits globally. More than 1 000 varieties of bananas exist in the world, and they each provide vital nutrients to populations in producing and importing countries alike. The most traded variety is the Cavendish banana, which accounts for just under half of global production and has an estimated annual production volume of 50 million tonnes. Bananas are particularly significant in some of the least-developed, low-income, food-deficit countries, where they can contribute not only to household food security as a staple but also to income generation as a cash crop.

World banana trade has recorded comparatively high levels of around 20 million tonnes per annum in recent years. Key drivers of trade include supply growth in both leading and emerging export countries, as well as ample global import demand. However, increasingly erratic and adverse weather conditions, rising costs of production, tight producer margins, and the spread of plant pests and diseases are causing severe concern to the industry.

Current releases
Banana Market Review - Preliminary results 2024
10/01/2025

The Banana Market Review Preliminary Results are issued on an annual basis to Members and Observers of the Sub-Group on Bananas of the Intergovernmental...

Banana Market Review 2023
26/08/2024

The Banana Market Review is issued on an annual basis to Members and Observers of the Sub-Group on Bananas of the Intergovernmental Group on Bananas...

More Publications
Food Outlook - November 1999
03/11/1999

Latest information confirms another above-average cereal output in 1999, of 1 866 million tonnes (including rice in milled terms). However, at this level, production would be less than the anticipated consumption requirements in 1999/2000 and stocks, which have built-up over the past three years, would have to be drawn down. Food emergencies persist in many countries throughout the world, mainly due to the effects of natural disasters, civil strife and economic crises. Currently, 52 million people are estimated to be facing food shortages of varying intensity in 35 countries worldwide. World trade in cereals in 1999/2000 is forecast to increase by nearly 4 percent, to 221 million tonnes, 8 million tonnes up from the previous year. The bulk of the increase is expected in wheat and coarse grains, while rice imports are tentatively forecast to remain virtually unchanged. International cereal prices weakened further since September, mostly reflecting good harvest results. Prices for wheat and coarse grains remain below those a year ago, and the FAO Rice Export Price Index in October averaged the lowest level in the past five years. World cassava production and consumption are forecast to rise in 1999. Although international trade in cassava products is expected to recover partly from the slump in 1998, demand remains generally sluggish and world cassava prices have fallen to record low levels. International prices for dairy products may show a moderate increase during the remainder of 1999 and into 2000, as a result of limited stocks in the main exporting countries and sustained import demand. World sugar prices fell to a 13-year low in early 1999 reflecting abundant supplies, and the outlook is for continuing weak prices in the remainder of 1999. FAO tentatively forecasts global production will exceed consumption again in 1999/2000 for the sixth consecutive year, and stocks will rise further.

Food Outlook - September 1999
03/09/1999

The outlook for 1999 cereal production has improved slightly since June, due mainly to better crop prospects in Asia and North America. World production, however, will not be sufficient to meet anticipated consumption requirements and global stocks will need to be drawn down. Food emergencies persist throughout the world, mainly due to the effects of adverse weather, civil strife and chronic economic problems. Currently, 37 countries face food emergencies of varying degrees, with an increasing number of people requiring food assistance. Latest estimates put cereal food aid shipments in 1998/99 at 9.5 million tonnes, 3 million tonnes above last year and the highest level since 1993/94. FAO’s latest forecast for 1999 cereal production is 1 870 million tonnes, 0.7 percent below last year and 18 percent lower than the record output in 1997. Wheat production is put at 579 million tonnes, almost 3 percent down on last year, while coarse grain output is anticipated at around 899 million tonnes, some 7 million tonnes below last year’s crop. Global rice production is forecast at a record 585 million tonnes (392 million tonnes milled), 2 percent higher than last year. World trade in cereals in 1999/2000 is forecast to increase by 2 percent to 218 million tonnes, 5 million tonnes more than in the previous year. Global trade in wheat and coarse grains is expected to rise due mostly to higher demand in Asia. Trade in rice is expected to remain similar to last year, the second highest on record. International cereal prices remain mostly below the previous year, but wheat prices firmed up slightly in recent months, supported by increased trade activity. By contrast, coarse grains and rice prices in international markets fell, mostly in response to good crop prospects and weaker international demand, respectively. Prospects for trade and price recovery in the world meat market remain uncertain as the effects of the 1998 global financial crisis extend into 1999. Global production is forecast to increase 2 percent as feed prices remain low. Record 1998/99 production of oilcrops is confirmed by latest estimates, exceeding the expected increase in demand. Stocks of oilcrop products are likely to increase and prices to fall. World fish production recovered in 1999 due to high tuna and illex catches. With the phasing out of El Niño, the small pelagic fisheries in Chile and Peru are recovering. The prices of tuna and groundfish are anticipated to improve.

 

 

Bananas are predominantly produced in Asia, Latin America and Africa. The largest producers for domestic consumption are India and China

 

Banana cultivar diversity comprises dessert types, like the Cavendish banana, and cooking types, like plantains. Some cultivars can have dual uses.

 

Harsh methods are often used to control irrigation and plant diseases in large-scale banana production, and such production methods can carry significant negative repercussions for the environment and the health and safety of workers and local communities.

 

A serious threat to the industry continues to be Fusarium Tropical Race 4 (TR4), a fungal disease affecting banana plants. It is currently confirmed in 21 banana-producing countries. In all reported cases, once a piece of farmland is contaminated with TR4, managing the disease is challenging and costly.

 The global banana value chain is increasingly characterized by the direct downstream activities of large retail chains from the key importing countries. These chains operate independent of traditional fruit companies by sourcing bananas directly from growers and distributors.   

 

 

On average, more than 90 percent of bananas for export originate from Central and South America and the Philippines. The largest importers are the EU, the United States of America, China, the Russian Federation, and Japan. 

 

Banana export earnings help to finance food import bills, supporting the economies of major banana-producing countries.

 

Research in ten banana producing countries found that income from banana farming can account for around three-quarters of the total monthly household income of smallholder farmers. 

 

The effects of global warming are resulting in a higher occurrence of droughts, floods, hurricanes and other natural disasters. These environmental concerns render banana production increasingly difficult, uncertain and costly, and threaten to disrupt global supplies and smallholder livelihoods.