Costa Rica's banana sector is facing one of its most difficult periods due to the extreme weather conditions that have hit the Caribbean region. According to data from the National Banana Corporation (Corbana), during the first half of 2025, banana exports fell by 20.67% compared to the same period in 2024, and the industry's revenue has also been affected by this.
According to information from the Banaclima weather monitoring platform, in the second half of 2024, a total of 1,500 millimeters of rainfall was recorded in just three months. This excess rainfall, combined with a longer rainy season during the first months of 2025, caused soil saturation and facilitated the proliferation of diseases such as black sigatoka, one of the main threats to banana crops.
© Corbana
"The impact of rains since the end of last year and the beginning of this one has caused a significant reduction in fruit production during the first half of the year," said Erick Bolaños, Corbana's technical assistance director.
Bolaños also said that this situation has been made worse by events such as the one that occurred on August 14, when "strong winds accompanied by heavy rains affected the entire Caribbean region."
Faced with this situation, Corbana has been working hard to provide technical assistance to producers, focusing its efforts on strengthening phytosanitary measures to minimize the impact on production.
"We provide comprehensive support to the sector, helping face the challenges of climate change with an approach based on science and technology," said Marcial Chaverri Rojas, general manager of Corbana. "We are working on the development of new resistant varieties and training producers to mitigate the effects of adverse conditions."
Keeping black sigatoka under control is one of the main challenges for the sector. Through its Research and Technical Assistance departments, Corbana recommends implementing good agricultural practices such as leaf removal and elimination of infected tissues; key measures to prevent reinfections and maintain the productivity of plantations.
For the second half of 2025, projections point to a 5% reduction in the production deficit, provided that weather conditions are less favorable for the spread of the disease. However, estimates for 2026 suggest lower fruit availability compared to previous years, which could lead to adjustments in banana prices on international markets.
For more information:
Erick Bolaños and Marcial Chaverri
Corbana
Costa Rica
Tel.: (506) 4002 - 4700
[email protected]
www.corbana.co.cr