Costa Rica’s banana exports to the UK have grown by seven per cent year on year.

According to official figures from producers’ association Corbana, banana sendings to the UK were up 7.2 per cent 2007 outstripping overall growth in sendings to Europe of 2.4 per cent. Global exports increased by more than five per cent to a record 113.5m boxes in line with the percentage growth performance in 2006 and a new revenue record for a 12-month period was set at $659.1 million.

The European Union remains a key importer of the Central American fruit, hitting a new record of 55.9 million boxes, representing growth of 2.4 per cent on 2006 figures. Growth was particularly strong in a number of key European markets: in Belgium, exports in 2007 grew by almost 82 per cent, whilst imports to Germany grew almost a quarter. Corbana puts the steady pace of growth of Costa Rica banana exports after the devastating 2005 floods down to a comprehensive investment programme promoted by the Costa Rican government, and also to increased productivity and increasingly efficient use of resources through technological innovation and managerial expertise.

“Costa Rica has sustained its growth again in 2007, allowing us to hit new industry records in both export volumes and revenues”, said Jorge Sauma Aguilar, Corbana ceo. “Europe remains a key market for Costa Rica bananas, invigorated by the consolidation of our market share in our core markets, especially Belgium. Last year’s performance demonstrates that the recovery initiated in 2006 has been based on solid ground and is in line with our global growth strategy. This coming year we plan to maintain our growth by consolidating our programme of research and sustainable development. ”

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