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As every year, the January issue of FruiTrop contained a price review of the banana year that had just come to an end. This month, we publish a special report reviewing supply. Once again, the European market came up with a pleasant surprise that can be summarised in just one word: vitality. Whereas many large fruit markets stagnated, that of the leading tropical fruit was different.
It has beaten records annually during the three years following its liberalisation on 1 January 2006: record consumption (average 10.8 kg par person), record supply (+ 188 000 tonnes to 5.4 million tonnes) and record imports (+ 174 000 tonnes to 4.9 million tonnes). All types of sources (EU, ACP and other third countries) shared in the banquet, even though the detail shows that some producers benefited more than others from this European market growth.
But did these volumes have a negative effect on prices? The review published in our January issue shows precisely the opposite. Prices at the import stage were 6% higher than in 2007 (EUR13.40 per box in comparison with 12.70). Has the way to square the economic circle been discovered and might the banana market be benefiting from it? If so, this would mean—more seriously—that the increases in price and volume might be sustainable. Everybody would like to believe this and the question is open to debate. FruiTrop provides a few features for reflection in the form of questions and answers, together with a number of graphs.
Contents of the issue

FruiTrop is a monthly journal containing news about trade flows of fresh and processed tropical fruits, fresh citrus, and counter-season fruits. Aimed at a readership of economic and political decision makers in these sectors, it is published in French and English. FruiTrop is distributed in more than 40 countries.