The Ecuadorian plantain industry is experiencing one of its most challenging periods in the global market. According to the Association of Plantain Exporters of Ecuador (Asoexpla), from January to July 2025, the country exported 6.74 million boxes of fresh bananas, which resulted in a 5.28% decrease in foreign currency compared to the same period in 2024. The decline has sped up in recent months, going from 2.64% in May to 2.82% in June.
Ecuador remains the world's second-largest exporter, behind Guatemala and ahead of Colombia and Peru. However, poor fruit quality and sanitary issues such as moko and sigatoka, which affect more than 30% of plantations, have decreased the volume of fresh banana exports by 35%, according to Asoexpla's executive director, Eduardo Manrique.
Exports continue to decline due to quality and productivity problems, despite efforts in training and technical information. "It is a process that cannot be resolved in months," he said.
The impact is mainly felt in the United States, the primary destination for Ecuadorian bananas, which accounts for 81.68% of exports. As of July, 5.51 million boxes had been shipped, 170,000 fewer than in 2024. This decline has allowed Guatemala and Colombia to increase their presence in the North American market.
In contrast, processed plantain continues to perform strongly: total exports reached 29,690 tons, a 20% increase over 2024. However, Asoexpla warns that the negative impacts will start to show in this segment in the coming months, with staff reductions and adjustments to production lines.
The union's projections are pessimistic: it expects a 10% to 15% decrease in fresh plantain exports and a slowdown in processed bananas this year. Domestic consumption, which exceeds 40 kg per person, is also putting pressure on the available supply.
Manrique emphasized that, although a slight recovery is expected from October onward in replanted areas, the alert remains active. Asoexpla and the Corporation of Exporting Guilds of Ecuador (CORDEX) have presented an action plan to the government that includes incentives, differentiated credits, and approval of new plantings under technical standards. Despite some progress in technical roundtables, the sector continues to insist on the need to accelerate measures to address a production emergency they deem serious.
Source: eluniverso.com