Uniban returns to Fruit Attraction 2024 and will present some of its latest moves to optimise its fruit export network. This is the case of Puerto Antioquia, a site equipped with advanced technology for cargo handling and refrigerated storage, which will improve the transport of products such as bananas, plantains, avocados and mangoes. According to Manuel Laborde, executive president of Uniban, this investment "will strengthen Colombia's export capacity and underscores the company's commitment to sustainable growth."

Gabaceras will be present at Fruit Attraction in Madrid with its stand, and a firm strategy focused on boosting its international expansion and representing its values and those of the group it belongs to, Europlátano, one of the six organisations that make up "Plátano de Canarias". Founded in 1992 in the Valle de Aridane, on the island of La Palma, Europlátano has been marketing "Plátano de Canarias" under the Gabaceras brand since its inception. Since 2016, the group has expanded its presence in new and profitable European markets such as Switzerland, Poland, and France.

Banana selling prices in St. Petersburg during the week took a nosedive due to weak demand, falling to USD 17.30-18.35 per box CIF according to brand, volume, and packing. Poor-quality fruit also sold for around USD14.15 per box CIF. Approximately 1.515 million boxes were discharged, and around 1.320 million boxes are expected for week 41. The exchange rate was 1 USD = 95.03 RUB. Prices for Ecuadorian bananas in the Mediterranean ranged from USD 15.0 to 18.0 per box CIF, depending on brand, volume, region, and packing. In Libya, prices reached USD 18.0 per box CIF, while Central American bananas were sold at around USD 16.0 per box CIF. In Mersin, re-exported Ecuadorian bananas were priced between USD 14.0 and 17.50 per box, and Central American bananas were sold for approximately USD 12.0 to 14.0 per box. All prices varied according to brand, origin, volume, weight, and packing. The exchange rate was 1 USD = 34.25TL. The Iranian domestic market prices for Ecuadorian bananas ranged from 80,000 to 95,000 IRT per kg and around 69,000 to 75,000 IRT per kg. There were still a limited number of banana import licenses. The price for a 13.5 kg box of Indian bananas was USD 10.50 CIF in Bandar Abbas and around USD 9.50 CIF in Umm Qasr, Iraq.

U.S. dock workers and port operators have reached a tentative deal to immediately end a three-day strike that has shut down shipping on the U.S. East Coast and Gulf Coast. The tentative agreement is for a wage hike of around 62% over six years. That would raise average wages to about $63 (€57) from $39 an hour over the contract's life. The International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) workers union had been seeking a 77% raise, while the employer group, United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), had previously raised its offer to a nearly 50% hike.

Quito, Ecuador - The PremioeXpor 2024 gala, organized by the Ecuadorian Federation of Exporters (Fedexpor), was held on September 19. During the ceremony, awards were given to companies that during the last year stood out for their performance in international sales, diversification of commercial destinations and product portfolio, in addition to demonstrating the highest standards of certifications, leading processes of sustainability, innovation, safety, talent development and contribution to the community.

Gasum will bunker Hapag-Lloyd's container vessels with 20,000 mt of bio-LNG in 2025–2026. The energy company Gasum is collaborating with Hapag-Lloyd to supply their container vessels with liquefied biomethane (bio-LNG) during a two-year tender period. Earlier this year, Hapag-Lloyd, one of the world's leading container shipping companies, won the first tender from the Zero Emission Maritime Buyers Alliance (ZEMBA) for ocean shipping based on waste-based bio-LNG that achieves at least a 90 per cent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

The Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation (Midagri) has created the Task Force to address the national phytosanitary emergency caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Tropical Race 4 or TR4 in banana cultivation. This decision was formalised through Ministerial Resolution No. 0301-2024-MIDAGRI, published in the special edition of the Legal Norms Bulletin of the official newspaper El Peruano.

The Technical Mission of the Republic of China (Taiwan), in conjunction with the National Central School of Agriculture (ENCA) of Guatemala, has established an alliance to support the new tissue culture laboratory at this educational institution. This collaboration aims to promote the production of healthy banana seedlings to boost the banana industry in Guatemala. A team of researchers from Agrosavia, the Tibaitatá and Palmira Research Centers, the University of La Sabana, and the Earlham Institute in the United Kingdom has conducted an innovative study, which has been published in the journal G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics.

Banana selling prices in St. Petersburg ranged from USD 18.60 to USD 19.75 per box CIF during the week, influenced by brand, quality, volume, and packing factors. Prices were higher than the past week due to the seasonally higher demand for bananas. Approximately 1.005 million boxes were discharged in week 35, with an anticipated discharge of around 1.155 million boxes in week 36. The exchange rate was 1 USD = 89.70 RUB. Banana prices in the Mediterranean for Ecuadorian bananas ranged from USD 16.00 to USD 21.00 per box CIF, influenced by brand, volume, region, packing, and weight. The highest prices were observed in Algeria at USD 21.00 per box CIF and in Libya at USD 18.00-19.00 per box CIF. In Algeria, several containers remained still blocked at the port of Ghazaouet following recent narcotic discoveries. In the Mersin Free Zone, re-exported Ecuadorian bananas to the neighbouring countries were priced between USD 16.00 and USD 17.00 per box, depending on brand, quality, volume, and packing. Prices reached up to USD 19.00 per box for extra-quality and heavier boxes. Central American brands were priced between USD 13.00 and USD 16.00 per box.

Fairtrade International has introduced a new Living Income Reference Price tool, expanding its suite of digital tools to assist companies in creating sustainable supply chains. This tool, available on the Fairtrade International website, simplifies the process for companies to determine the prices necessary to ensure living incomes and wages. Users can search for Living Income Reference Prices by commodity or country using an interactive map and download reports detailing the factors and calculations behind each price.

The Banana Plant Tissue Production Centre at Kuvempu University, established to support local farmers, has been inactive for the past four years due to insufficient funding. The university has appealed to the State government for financial assistance to resume operations. The Department of Post-Graduate Studies and Research in Biotechnology at the university set up the centre to provide farmers with healthy, disease-free banana plantlets at subsidised prices. Hundreds of farmers benefited from these plantlets, cultivating them successfully. While private sellers offered plantlets at prices ranging from ₹18 to ₹23 per plantlet, the university provided them at a much lower cost of ₹8 each.

Seaboard Marine has recently unveiled its latest venture in the maritime sector, placing an order for 1,000 Star Cool Integrated Reefers, some of which will feature Star Cool CA (Controlled Atmosphere) technology. This acquisition, managed through the leasing firm Global Container International (GCI), underscores Seaboard Marine's dedication to upgrading its fleet and boosting operational efficiency.

REYBANPAC, Ecuador's leading banana producer and second-largest exporter, has recently published its biennial sustainability report for 2022 and 2023. This is the first report under the guidelines of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standard. The new publication details the good environmental and social practices the company implemented under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) during this period.

Juan Carlos Duarte, General Manager of Tecbaco, shares the company’s achievements and challenges in 2024. Despite lower performance compared to the previous year, Tecbaco exported 9.7 million boxes of bananas, with 63% conventional bananas and 37% organic, to various international destinations. Tecbaco expects to close in 2024 with a net profit of approximately $20 billion and export around 20 million boxes of bananas.

Dole Plc year-long 125th Banana-Versary celebration continues with another strategy centred on the beloved fruit. Dole is searching for 125 banana-loving runners in and around Charlotte, North Carolina, to participate in one of three events at the 2024 Novant Health Charlotte Marathon on November 16. “Dole’s partnership with the Charlotte Marathon simply reinforces what marathoners and other runners everywhere have known for years: Bananas are nature’s perfect pre-, during-, and post-race recovery food,” said William Goldfield, Director of Corporate Communications.