Since M&S began charging per banana instead of by weight, shoppers have started selecting the largest bananas available. Managers’ report that charging 18p per banana, instead of 90p per kilo, does not raise overall prices when based on the average banana weight. Consequently, customers have been observed choosing the largest bananas from each bunch.

In Argentina’s Misiones province, Cavendish bananas grown from micropropagated seedlings produced by Biofábrica Misiones are delivering strong results, with yields around 40,000 kilograms per hectare and investment returns typically achieved within a year. Micropropagation—growing plants from small sections of a parent plant under controlled conditions—produces uniform, disease-free crops, improving efficiency and shortening harvest cycles compared to traditional methods.

In week 15 in St. Petersburg, banana selling prices were around USD 18.10 per box CIF for nearly all brands. Approximately 2.25 million boxes were discharged, with around 2.35 million expected to arrive in week 16. The exchange rate for the USD was 77.84 RUB. In the Mediterranean region, prices ranged from USD 17.00 to 18.00 per box CIF for Ecuadorian-origin fruit, depending on the brand, volume, and packaging, while Central American fruit was about USD 2.00 lower. In the Mersin Free Zone, Ecuadorian bananas re-exported to neighbouring countries were priced at USD 24.00-25.00 per box, depending on brand, volume, and packaging. Prices remained high due to increased demand and low supply. The exchange rate was 44.67 Turkish Lira for 1 USD.

Brazil’s banana industry is raising concerns about the potential import of bananas from Ecuador due to the risk of introducing Fusarium TR4, a highly destructive soil-borne fungus that attacks plant roots and blocks nutrient transport, ultimately killing the plant. The disease, already detected in Ecuador, poses a serious threat to Brazil’s widely grown nanica banana variety. Industry representatives, including agronomist Hilda Loschi, are urging the federal government to carefully assess the risks before approving imports.

The Strait of Hormuz blockade drives up container shipping spot rates. It is also causing global disruptions. MSI notes that the closure has sharply reduced container trade in the Middle East. This has raised rates worldwide and delayed market correction. After four weeks, transit through the strait remains heavily restricted. As a result, shipping lines have suspended reservations, rerouted vessels, and unloaded cargo at alternative hubs. Therefore, major ports like Jebel Ali are affected, creating inefficiencies like those of the Red Sea crisis, but less severe.

A Hong Kong-based conglomerate's subsidiary initiated arbitration against Maersk, accusing the Danish group of colluding with Panama to seize its port operations on the canal. Panama Ports Co., part of CK Hutchison Holdings, stated on April 7 that Maersk A/S undermined its port contract to make way for a Maersk-affiliated operator at the Balboa terminal. The company said the arbitration would be held in London but didn't explain what remedy it was seeking.

The most recent forecast from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts warns of a high probability of El Niño development in 2026, which could have direct effects on sensitive sectors such as agriculture in Ecuador. According to the European seasonal model, the equatorial Pacific is going through a transition phase from La Niña conditions to a neutral state, with increasing probabilities of evolving towards El Niño between mid and the second half of 2026.

MSC's logistics division is expanding its cold chain network in China through a joint venture that operates five cold storage facilities in Shanghai, Tianjin, and Ningbo. This marks the MSC Group's largest cold chain investment outside of the Americas, as the reefer infrastructure at major ports in China faces increasing pressure.

In December 2023, CMA CGM announced the launch of the Antilles hub project, which brings together the major seaports of Martinique and Guadeloupe, along with the State and CMA CGM, for a total investment of €336 million. The ship owner has made a substantial contribution to this initiative. The primary goal of the hub is to centralise the flow of goods, facilitating the transhipment of containers between the main ocean lines and regional services in the French West Indies, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

Tropic, a Norwich-based AgTech startup specialising in gene-edited tropical crops, has completed an oversubscribed Series C funding round, raising €91.3 million (approximately $105 million). This funding will accelerate the global expansion of its banana and rice portfolios, as well as its pipeline of climate-resilient crops.

During week 12, banana prices in St. Petersburg started at USD 22.60–23.20 per box CIF at the beginning of the week. However, prices began to decline, falling to USD 21.40–22.00 per box CIF by Wednesday and further dropping to USD 20.20–20.80 per box CIF by Thursday. Approximately 1.750 million boxes were discharged, and around 2.040 million boxes are expected to arrive in week 13. The exchange rate was 84.84 Rubles for 1 USD. In the Mediterranean, the price for Ecuadorian bananas varied between USD 18.00 and 19.00 per box CIF, depending on volume, region, packing, and weight. Central American bananas were priced at about USD 17.00 per box CIF.

Plátano de Canarias has in recent years faced mounting structural, economic, and institutional pressures, prompting renewed calls from producers to safeguard existing support mechanisms while addressing shifting market dynamics and internal imbalances. Over the past decade, locally grown plátanos—primarily from the Canary Islands—have steadily lost ground in European markets to imported bananas. Between 2015 and 2024, imports into the European Union rose by 25.1%, increasing from 4.25 million tons to 5.32 million tons. In contrast, EU production remained largely stagnant, edging up only slightly from 669,700 tons to 677,600 tons. As a result, the share of European plátanos in total supply fell from 13.6% to 11.3%.

Ecuador and the United States signed the Reciprocal Trade Agreement (ART) on March 13, 2026. This agreement aims to improve access for Ecuadorian products to the U.S. market and directly impacts one of the key components of the national economy: agricultural exports. The significant data highlights that the agreement will eliminate surcharges that currently affect 53% of Ecuadorian non-oil exports to the United States, amounting to USD 2.786 billion based on 2025 figures. In essence, more than half of these exports will be able to compete under better conditions in one of the largest markets in the world.

Chiquita has unveiled a second artwork in its 2026 Pop by Nature campaign, created with contemporary artist Jiaqi Wang. While the first piece reintroduced Miss Chiquita in her tropical setting, this new chapter presents her in motion—dancing, cooking, and sharing everyday moments that highlight bananas as a global staple. Now in its third year, Pop by Nature positions bananas as both nourishment and a cultural symbol. Wang’s vibrant style transforms Miss Chiquita from a static icon into a relatable, modern character.

Chiquita has resumed limited banana production in Panama as part of a phased reactivation after shutting down operations in mid-2025 due to heavy losses and a union strike that led to 5,500 layoffs. Since November, production has remained low and focused on the local market, allowing the company to test fruit quality and evaluate upgraded packing facilities. No export timeline has been confirmed, though the goal is to meet international standards.