Exports reached a new record last year, but 2026 is shaping up to be much tougher
Colombia exported almost 133mn boxes of bananas in 2025, marking a new record for the country. But industry leaders warned that the outlook has worsened significantly in the first months of 2026.
As reported in Contexto Ganadero, Emerson Aguirre, president of national banana association Augura, said: “Reaching our position as the third largest banana exporter in Latin America, with nearly 133mn boxes, is an achievement that had eluded us for years”.
According to Aguirre, the improved performance was driven by several technical and natural factors. “Climate patterns, soil studies, and fertilisation plans were key to achieving these levels of productivity,” he noted, while also highlighting the role of labour management on the plantations.
As a result, productivity increased 21 per cent year-on-year to 2,516 boxes per hectare.
But Aguirre warned 2026 presents a gloomier outlook, marked by climate risks and economic pressures that are causing concern in the sector. “The picture for 2026 is a complete reversal compared to 2025, with a drop in the dollar and an unprecedented level of rainfall,” he said.
Recently flooding across more than 1,200ha in Urabá and the downward trend of the dollar will negatively affect Colombia’s competitiveness this year, he said.
As a result, he has called on the government to implement support measures, such as subsidies for currency hedges and tax refund certificates, to protect producers.
Aguirre warned that the expected arrival of El Niño could further impact production but stressed that the sector is already working on preventative measures to mitigate its effects.
The banana industry supports more than 200,000 families in Colombia, with each cultivated hectare generating one direct job and around three indirect jobs.
