The banana-producing sector is a significant contributor to global agricultural trade. Production in this industry has registered steady growth since 2010 and by 2021, global banana production had hit nearly 125 million tons.
Today there are approximately 1,000 banana varieties grown across 150 nations, with the most marketable being the Cavendish cultivar which accounts for approximately 47% of global production.
The main obstacles for banana producers
A number of limitations have hampered the capacity of both producers and exporters to meet demand and the high standards required by export markets across the main trade regions.
The banana-producing sector has also been concerned about diseases that affect plants, including Banana Fusarium Wilt Tropical Race 4, with major producers issuing warnings about its outbreak.
Production shortfalls brought about by unfavorable weather, the poor use of fertilizers and a spike in transportation costs were among the primary problems faced by producers, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
However, the Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSSs) can support building farmers’ resistance to such difficulties.
Global banana production volume
Since banana cultivation is frequently carried out by small-scale farmers in the informal sector, with information therefore often untraceable, it is challenging to collect precise statistics on the entire global production of bananas.
However, the official traceable data available today shows that this industry is worth US$25 billion and in the period between 2022 and 2027 it is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 4.5%.
The production of bananas has already increased by approximately 24% from 97 million metric tons in 2008 to nearly 125 million tons in 2021.
Banana production worldwide 2010-2021 (in million metric tons)
Source: Statista
Countries with the biggest banana-production industries
Since 2016 the three biggest banana producers have been India, China, and Indonesia. The largest exporting nations, however, continue to be those from Latin America. Here are the top 10 major producers of bananas in the world:
1. India
On an annual basis, India produces 33 million tons of bananas, which is more than any other country in the world by a wide margin. It is also the number one banana-consuming nation. The northeast and southern regions are among the key areas where the fruit is cultivated but Maharashtra, a state in central-western India, is leading the way.
2. China
Each year, China grows 11.7 million tons of bananas, which makes it the second biggest banana producer in the world. The majority of China’s banana-growing zones are in the country’s southernmost, tropical, or subtropical regions. This includes Guangdong, Yunnan, and Hainan provinces.
3. Indonesia
The annual banana production in the country is 8.7 million tons. Although Indonesia grows a range of banana varieties throughout the nation, Sumatra and Java are the areas where the fruit is mostly cultivated.
4. Brazil
This Latin American country produces 6.8 million tons of bananas each year. Brazil’s major banana-producing location, Vale do Ribeira, is situated in the state of Sao Paulo in the southeast of the country and contributes to more than a half of the nation’s total banana output.
5. Ecuador
Besides being one of the largest producers of bananas with an output of 6.6 million tons, Ecuador is also among the leading nations in terms of the export of the fruit. Around one-third of Ecuador’s banana exports come from the western region of Los Rios. Another important region for banana growing is Guayas, located in southwest Ecuador.
6. Philippines
The Philippines boasts an annual production of 5.9 million tons of bananas. The Davao Region located in southeast Mindanao is the biggest banana-producing location in the nation and is responsible for over 90% of the Philippines’ exports.
7. Angola
The number of bananas produced in Angola in 2021 totaled 4.35 million tons. One of the primary banana-producing locations in the country is the Bengo Province, which is situated in the country’s northwest. Another significant banana-growing region is Kwanza Norte Province found in the north of the country.
8. Guatemala
The annual output of 4.2 million tons allows Guatemala to be among the top 10 leading banana-producing countries on the planet. The region of Izabal, which is situated in the northern part of Guatemala along the Caribbean coast, is where most bananas are produced.
9. Tanzania
Tanzania is 9th on the list of biggest banana-producing countries, with around 3.5 million tons produced yearly. Banana cultivation is a major industry in the nation’s economy, employing over 900,000 farming households. Over 60% of the nation’s bananas are farmed in the regions around Kilimanjaro, the world’s highest volcano, and the Kagera and Mbeya regions.
10. Costa Rica
With an annual production of 2.5 million tons of bananas, Costa Rica is the tenth-largest producer of this fruit. A great deal of Costa Rica’s banana exports originates from Limón province, which is situated on the country’s eastern coast.
Source: Statista
Final word
With major banana-producing nations like India, China, Indonesia and Brazil and another 150 countries contributing to global banana output, the banana-producing industry is a prominent player in the world’s agricultural sector. Despite some obstacles, including pest and disease outbreaks, bad weather, and spikes in transportation costs, the industry is nevertheless thriving thanks to investment, innovation, and growing demand. The banana business is expected to adapt and develop to suit the changing needs of consumers as the global population rises.
