green bananas on tree

The Honduran banana industry has reportedly experienced an encouraging first half to the year after exports rose to 13.4m (40lb) boxes between the January and June period on the back of greater US demand for the fruit.

According to a report on foreign trade from the Central Bank of Honduras (CBH), published by local media, the result represents an increase of 16.3 per cent (or 1.87m boxes) on the same period last year when 11.5m boxes were shipped.

CBH said exports were worth some US$163.7m for the first six months of the year, against US$148.8m during the first half of 2009.

This came despite an alleged decline in international prices, which fell from US$12.94 to US$12.25 per box, according to CBH.