WORLD SITUATION AND ADVANCES OF BANANA PRODUCTION AND TECHNOLOGY

The banana is the most consumed fruit at the world only surpassed by processed citrus. The most important banana types are the Cavendish group with 47 %, Prata types and others, with 24 % and types for cooking, with 17 %. The group Gros Michael is 12 %. India is the biggest producer, with 19 % of the total, followed by Brazil with 15 %, Equador with 12 % and others with less than 10 %. In 2009 the banana importations were about 14,5 million tons, mainly by Europe Union, USA-Canada, Japan and others with less than one million tons each one. In 1,999 the banana importations were about 12 million tons. Equador is the most important exporting country with 4,7 million tons, followed by Phillipines, Costa Rica, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras and Panama. Prices variation were observed during the last years for banana market around the world, but the market is mantained stable and the organic banana with higher prices.