The 2013 calendar year brought strong growth and diversified sales for Brazilian bananas, thanks in large part to favorable market conditions.

If the forecast for 2014 stays on track, the South American nation can also expect a strong year to come, according to the Brazilian Fruit Institute's (IBRAF) market manager Clovis Ribeiro.

"In 2014, we have the same expectations that we had in 2013. We have a favorable exchange rate as an exporter to intensify more volume on the international market," he told www.freshfruitportal.com.

"A valuable dollar and a valuable euro are optimal to export more. And the weather forecast for 2014 is good. We hope to repeat 2013 in 2014."

Ribeiro said final numbers for 2013 are not yet out. Initial evaluations, however, indicate that Brazil performed well this past year in Mercosur and Europe.

Bureau of Foreign Trade (Secex) statistics indicate that exports grew 8% during the period from January to October 2013, up to 82,000MT, Agricultura.ruralbr.com.br reported. As Brazil's top banana importer, sales to Mercosur increased 22%.

Ribeiro said historically, Mercosur has been Brazil's primary market. Diversification, however, has allowed Brazil to gain ground in new regions.

"We had more volume destined for the European market. In previous years this did not happen. The bananas have gone mainly to Mercosur. The exchange rate also contributed to an increase in exports and diversification of destinations on the European market," he said.

"Typically, Brazil has been a major exporter of bananas with the destination of Mercosur due to proximity, the exchange rate and product value."

In Europe, Ribeiro said Brazil has encountered favorable prices and new growth opportunities.

Currently, he said the top importers for Brazilian bananas are Uruguay, Argentina, Spain, the United States and England.

In general, Brazil exports Cavendish bananas, reserving plantains and prata bananas for the local market.

In top Cavendish producing exporting states in the northeast, such as Rio Grande do Norte and Ceará, Ribeiro said 2013 offered a favorable climate that further encouraged the increase in exports.

"In 2013, we saw good climatic conditions in the main banana producing regions, which are oriented at the international market. This was the main factor that contributed to the increase in exports," he said.

"The climatic problems that we’ve had in our production regions went down quite a bit in their force. The quality conditions were good and productivity as well."

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