Banana exports to US seen by June

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines may finally push through with the exportation of Cavendish bananas to the United States by June after several months of delay, according to the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI).

BPI director Clarito Barron said a work plan for the exportation of bananas to the US has already been approved by both parties.

“They (US government) will now give the go signal for the commencement of shipments of highland cavendish bananas,” he said.

Eyed for shipment to US defense commissaries are 3,000 metric tons of Cavendish bananas produced by DOLE Philippines. 

Barron said the Philippines and the US are still discussing possible follow-up shipments.

“The demand will still be determined,” he said.

Manila tapped the US market after China imposed stricter sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) restrictions on Philippine banana exports.

Aside from the US, the Philippine government is also talking to Japan, Korea and other  Middle East countries for banana exports.

Local banana growers and exporters who wish to tap the United States market, must invest in ripening rooms in the mainland.

Philippine banana exports rose 111 percent in 2012 despite export restrictions set by China because of increased demand from the country’s premium markets.

The local banana industry managed to increase shipments of Cavendish bananas to 3.8 million metric tons in 2012 from 1.8 million MT recorded in 2011 because of increased demand from traditional markets like Japan and Korea, and the opening of new export markets such as Indonesia, Pakistan, Jordan, and other Middle East countries.