"The banana price has greatly increased over the last few weeks. The price of bananas varies based on product quality, from 4.2-4.5 yuan [0.63-0.67 USD] per 0.5 kg for top-quality bananas, 3.7 yuan [0.55 USD] per 0.5 kg for medium-quality bananas, and almost 3 yuan [0.45 USD] for slightly damaged bananas. Overall market conditions are quite good, and the fluctuations in that price range are smaller than last year." This is according to Yao Yuanchao, banana retailer and broker from Xishuangbanna, Yunnan.
"The current price is quite high and approaches the limits of what the banana market can handle. We believe it likely that this development will reverse in the next two days. Of course, this is mainly decided in the balance between supply and demand. It is therefore still too early to discuss how the market will develop in the near future."
"The trade volume of bananas greatly increased, and the weather conditions add even more energy to this market. As the temperature goes up, the market demand for bananas grows as well. The trade volume of bananas in spring is usually around 50% larger than the trade volume in winter. Out of all the banana production areas in China only Yunnan is able to provide year-round supply. This is the peak period of banana trade."
"We begin our banana harvest every year in December. We harvest in batches and supply them to the market. The harvest season lasts until around the middle of May. The overall production volume of bananas decreased in the last few years. This is on the one hand because weather conditions have been poor, but on the other hand also a result of Panama disease in banana production areas. The best way to deal with the spread of Panama disease is to plant banana seedlings that are resistant to this disease. It is for this reason that we plant both regular bananas and resistant bananas in our plantation, so we can satisfy varied market demand."
