Colombian banana Exports Grew by 18.8% with a Total of 22,388 Containers

This increase was mainly driven by the growth of refrigerated banana exports, which saw a 1.2 times increase. Overall, refrigerated exports, which include banana shipments, ended the first quarter of the year with a positive balance. There was a 13.7% increase in the volume of containerized cargo compared to the same period last year.

This growth was primarily due to the increase in refrigerated banana exports, which saw a 1.2 times higher increase compared to the low levels recorded in the first quarter of 2023. During the first quarter of 2024, both dry and refrigerated cargo exports, including bananas, registered a combined volume increase of 9.6% compared to the same period last year.

The growth in refrigerated cargo, particularly bananas, which saw an 18.8% increase compared to the first quarter of 2023, was the main driver of the rise in Colombia’s exports during this period.

Banana production is heavily concentrated in two main areas: Urabá – Antioquia and Magdalena. This is reflected in the market share of the ports TURBO, with 54%, and SMA, with 45%, in refrigerated banana exports.

Between 2023 and 2024, Turbo increased its market share by four percentage points, rising from 49% to 53% in the first quarter of this year.