In 20121 the volume of global gross banana exports reached a record high of 16.5
million tonnes, 1.1 million tonnes (or 7.3 percent) above 2011 level. The increase is
primarily explained by the growth of exports from Latin America and the Caribbean
from 12.5 to 13.0 million tonnes, despite the poor performance of Ecuador. In
Ecuador, the largest banana exporter in the world, banana exports shrank as flooding
damaged the crop, reducing the output by 416 000 tonnes, or 5.6 percent, relative
to 2011. The resulting 410 000 tonnes decline in shipments from Ecuador was more
than offset by vigorous exports from other countries, in particular those in Central
America.