Chiquita Brands International is reportedly planning to concentrate its Ecuadorean banana shipments at the South American country’s Port of Bolívar next year.
The move marks a return to the southern Ecuadorean region of El Oro after the firm only relocated to the Port of Guayaquil in February 2011, according to a report by Diario Opinión.
Chiquita has operated a weekly banana shipment from the Port of Bolívar since 2008, carrying 260,000 boxes of fruit or 10 per cent of domestic production.
As of 2013, however, the multinational will discharge two containerised ships from the port, each with a capacity of 260,000 boxes, representing 30 per cent of the banana cargo handled by the port.
The move to the Port of Bolívar follows an understanding reached with the current port administration to install a modern and multipurpose fifth wharf, the report said.
The US$51m wharf, which is set to measure 240m long by 97.85m wide, is due to be inaugurated on 20 December by Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa.
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