Costa Rica’s tropical fruit exports have decreased in both volume and value terms during the January to April period of this year compared with 2010.
According to data from the Central American country’s Foreign Trade Promotion office (Procomer), banana exports fell by 4.9 per cent in volume and 4.6 per cent in value terms to 463,355 tonnes and US$175.5m in the first quarter of 2011.
Melon shipments also declined by 23.9 per cent in volume to 92,696 tonnes and by 14.6 per cent in value to US$45.2m
Conversely, sendings of Costa Rican pineapples rose by 2.9 per cent to 419,721 tonnes and by 0.9 per cent to US$167.9m, against the January to April period last year.
Although the three-month banana result was not positive, Procomer said the result was an improvement on the 11.4 per cent decline in sendings during January and February 2011, and a 10.6 per cent year-on-year increase.
Costa Rican Exporters Chamber president Mónica Araya said the agricultural sector had been severely affected in terms of competitiveness.
In addition, an increase in plantings of other crops (such as pineapples and rice) instead of melons has also impacted on the melon trade.
