Bananas are one of the most widely produced and consumed fruits in the world, with more than a thousand varieties available worldwide, according to the British newspaper The Guardian, and provide many vital nutrients to the population in both producing and importing countries.
Banana exports play an important role in global agricultural trade, with many countries relying heavily on its exports to support their economies. The banana trade involves a large network of producers, exporters and importers.
According to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, banana exports remained stable in 2023, showing a slight increase year-on-year of 0.29%, totaling 19.17 million metric tons. Banana exports had reached 19.1 million metric tons in 2022, according to another FAO report.
Bananas are grown in more than 150 countries, with major producers in regions such as Latin America, Asia and Africa.
Top 10 Banana Producing Countries in the World
Bananas are the fourth most important food crop after wheat, rice and maize in terms of production in the world, and according to statistics from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), India is the largest producer of bananas in the world, with its banana production reaching more than 34 million metric tons in 2022.
In recent years – after the Covid-19 pandemic – most producers in the market have focused on developing sustainable marketing lines for bananas worldwide in order to prevent damages caused by trade disruptions and disasters that affect the market growth.
Here is a list of the top 10 banana producing countries in the world in 2022, according to Statista:
1- India: 34.5 million metric tons.
2- China: 11.8 million metric tons.
3- Indonesia: 9.2 million metric tons.
4- Nigeria: 8 million metric tons.
5- Brazil: 6.8 million metric tons.
6- Ecuador: 6.1 million metric tons.
7- Philippines: 5.9 million metric tons.
8- Guatemala: 4.7 million metric tons.
9- Angola: 5.5 million metric tons.
10- Tanzania: 3.5 million metric tons.
Top 10 Banana Exporting Countries in the World
Although India is the world’s largest producer of bananas, it is not a major exporter due to the high consumption of bananas within the country and the high demand for them by the population.
Major exporting countries such as Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala and the Philippines play pivotal roles in meeting global demand for bananas through efficient production practices and strategic trade initiatives while maintaining high quality standards.
Banana exports reached 19.1 million metric tons in 2022, according to a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Below is a list of the top 10 banana exporting countries in the world in 2022, in US dollars, according to OAC World:
1- Ecuador: $3.68 billion.
2- Philippines: $1.41 billion.
3- Costa Rica: $1.22 billion.
4- Colombia: $1.16 billion.
5- Guatemala: $1.12 billion.
6- Netherlands: $595 million.
7- Mexico: $320 million.
8- Honduras: $314 million.
9- Vietnam: $307 million.
10- Ivory Coast: $298 million.
Top 10 Banana Importing Countries in the World
Most banana exports go to European countries and the United States, which is the world’s largest importer of bananas.
Below is a list of the top 10 banana importing countries in the world in 2022, in US dollars, according to the previous source.
1- United States: $2.7 billion.
2- China: $1.06 billion.
3- Japan: $797 million.
4- Russia: $794 million.
5- Germany: $731 million.
6- Netherlands: $708 million.
7- United Kingdom: $535 million.
8- Belgium: $471 million.
9- France: $449 million.
10- Italy: $412 million.
The 4 largest banana exporting countries in the Arab world
Banana cultivation is not widespread in the Arab world due to climatic conditions. The following is a list of the 4 largest Arab banana exporting countries in 2022, estimated in US dollars, according to the previous source.
1- Lebanon: $25.7 million.
2- UAE: $13.2 million (re-export).
3- Morocco: $3.24 million.
4- Egypt: $1.91 million.
Top 5 Arab Banana Importing Countries
Arab countries import significant quantities of bananas to cover local consumption. The following is a list of the top 5 Arab countries importing bananas in 2022, according to the previous source.
1- Saudi Arabia: $191 million.
2- Iraq: $123 million.
3- UAE: $122 million.
4- Algeria: $53 million.
5- Kuwait: $50.2 million.
Facts you may not know about bananas
1- It is believed that humans first knew bananas about 10 thousand years ago, and some scientists believe that it may have been the first fruit discovered in the world.
In 327 BC, when Alexander the Great and his army invaded India, he discovered bananas in the Indian valleys, and after tasting them for the first time, he introduced this new discovery to the Western world, according to the Australian Banana Growers Council platform.
2- Most historians believe that Arab traders were the ones who gave the banana this common name (banana) as the banana that originated in Southeast Asia was not the size we know today. It was small, about the length of a man’s finger, and hence the name “banana” came from the word “banan”, which is the Arabic name for the tip of the finger or toe according to the previous source.
3- Bananas have many health benefits. They are rich in potassium, pectin, magnesium, vitamins C and B6, and antioxidants. They protect against type 2 diabetes, help in weight loss, strengthen the nervous system, and help in the production of white blood cells. All of this is due to the high level of vitamin B6 that bananas contain, according to the Live Science platform.
