Weak demand in the EU was the main feature of the banana market in 2012. According
to the provisional data, in 2012 EC-27 banana imports declined to approximately 4.49
million tonnes (115 000 tonnes less than in 2011), the lowest level since 2006. Most
of the EU’s banana suppliers were affected by the decline, but Ecuador, Costa Rica
and the Dominican Republic registered largest decreases in export quantities. In part,
this drop was driven by an increase in bananas produced in the EU, from 612 000
tonnes to 649 000 tonnes. However, the decline also reflected a drop in per capita
consumption, from 10.4 kg in 2011 to 10.2 kg in 20122. Furthermore, the appreciation
of the United States (US) dollar constrained the demand for “dollar bananas”. Among
the major exporters to the EU market, only Peru, Belize and Ghana increased their
exports to the region.