MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines reclaimed last year its previous position as the second largest banana exporter, driven by supply improvements due to investments made by industry players, according to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The Philippines exported nearly three million metric tons of fresh bananas last year, up by a quarter from 2.33 million MT recorded in 2024, based on the preliminary report released by the FAO recently.
The 26-percent jump in shipments was more than enough for the country to regain its former status as the second biggest banana exporter after Ecuador.
In 2023, Guatemala snapped the Philippines’ six-year reign as Rank No. 2 as the latter slid to third rank after it faced multiple production challenges from pests to erratic weather.
In 2024, the Philippines remained as the third largest banana exporter in the world.
The FAO explained that the “surge” in the country’s banana supplies last year was caused by production recovery from “damages experienced in recent years.”
“Industry sources reported that substantial investments had been made in boosting the production of bananas in Region 2, Cagayan Valley of the Philippines, including through the
provision of organic fertilizer and other inputs by the Department of Agriculture,” the FAO said.
The FAO said the higher supplies from Ecuador and the Philippines lifted global banana imports last year to grow by five percent year-on-year to some 19.9 million MT.
Ecuador remained as the world’s top banana exporter with shipments reaching 6.4 million MT last year, a six-percent increase from nearly six million MT in 2024, based on FAO data.
Global banana exports rose by six percent to 20.82 million MT from 19.65 million MT, the FAO said.
The Philippines continues to face stiffer competition in China, one of its key markets in Asia, from neighboring banana producers that can offer lower export prices.
The average price of bananas from Vietnam, the top supplier to China, was at $409 per MT while supplies from the Philippines and Cambodia fetched around $600 per MT, according to FAO.
Last year, The STAR reported that the government and banana industry stakeholders are looking at legislating a plan that will not just revitalize the country’s ailing banana sector but also salvage the country’s sagging market share abroad.
International trade data showed that the Philippines has been losing substantial market share in its key Asian markets to not just South American producers, but also to neighboring Asian countries.
For one, Vietnam upended the Philippines’ 20-year rule as the top supplier of bananas to China in 2024 and has remained since then as the former poured in substantial investments to boost its production while the latter continued to face geopolitical risks and production woes.
