Banana exports from the Philippines to China are set to increase to 475,650 tonnes in 2012 from 453,000 tonnes in 2011, despite the trade fiasco that affected the entry of shipments into China earlier this year.
“Shipments to China have already reached 400,000 tonnes as of the end of September. We are expecting this will further increase given that we still have one full quarter to fill,” revealed Philippine Department of Agriculture Bureau of Plant Industry director Clarito Barron.
Barron said China would import a lot of food such as vegetables and fruits, as it prepared for the winter season, reports Manila Standard Today.
Philippine Banana Growers and Exporters Association said sales of bananas peaked at the beginning of August.
“There are more shipments now and demand is rising,' said association president Steve Antig. 'Although we still experience the same problems in inspection from time to time.'
While inspection methods have improved, with the return of random selection rather than the recent mandatory checking of 32-40 boxes per shipment of bananas after Chinese officials claimed to have found pest infestations in several shipments in April, Antig admitted the process was still “slower than before the inspection problems set in”.
There have been contrasting reports, from industry insiders and the Department of Agriculture, on the full impact of the near closure of the Chinese market on the country's banana industry, but what is clear is that exporters have been looking beyond China to Europe and the Middle East as potential new export destinations in recent months.
China is the second-largest market for fresh Cavendish bananas after Japan, with bananas destined for China making up around 21 per cent of overall exports, according to industry figures provided by exporter NEH Philippines.
