The Philippine banana industry was left stunned last week when Iran announced a ban on certain fresh fruit imports, including Cavendish bananas from the Philippines, reports the Sun Star.
The Philippines Banana Growers and Exporters Association director Stephen Antig told the Sun Star the industry was 'shocked' by the ban. 'Currently we are still at a loss with what happened,' he said.
Banana exporters from the Davao growing region were scheduled to meet on 4 October to discuss the ban's implications and explore possible actions to limit the impact of Iran's embargo, which has been imposed indefinitely.
The ban is expected to hit the Philippines banana sector hard, since Iran is the Philippine's fourth largest export market for Cavendish bananas, after Japan, China and Korea.
As well as bananas from the Philippines, Iran has also reportedly banned the entry of 48 other agricultural products, including apples from France, pears from China and oranges from Egypt.
