In January-February 2024, Ukraine imported 35.3 thsd tonnes of bananas worth $34.3 mln. These figures indicate a significant volume of imports of the product into the country, compared to the previous year, when only 201.2 thousand tons worth $201.6 million were imported in 2023. This data was provided by the State Customs Service and reported by Agro Perspectives.

The main suppliers of bananas to Ukraine in the first half of 2024 were Central American countries, in particular Ecuador, Costa Rica and Colombia. These regions are known for their high quality bananas and have become the predominant sources of supply for the Ukrainian market.

At the same time, in the second half of March and early April, there was an increase in banana prices in Ukrainian stores. While the average price for this fruit in late winter and early spring was 60-62 UAH per kilogram, now consumers have to pay between 69 and 72 UAH per kilogram. This indicates an upward trend in banana prices on the Ukrainian domestic market.

The rise in prices may be due to a number of factors, such as increased logistics and transportation costs, changes in the exchange rate and higher raw material costs. In addition, inflation and changes in consumer demand for bananas also have an impact on prices.

It should be borne in mind that bananas are one of the most popular fruits in Ukraine, so an increase in their price may affect consumers' budgets and the overall consumption of this product. At the same time, importers and retailers can address the issue of price stability and search for alternative sources of supply to meet the demand for bananas in Ukraine.