Where bananas are grown

Brazil is one of the biggest producers in the world and was a major exporter to the world market in the mid-20th century, but disease curtailed exports. In the 1990s, Del Monte established plantations in the North Eastern state of Rio Grande do Norte, relaunching exports to the EU.

In 2010, Brazil exported 63,000 tonnes of bananas to the EU.

Peru has become a significant exporter of organic bananas over the last decade. They are produced entirely by very small-scale farmers organised in associations. SITAG, the agricultural workers' union of Peru, is campaigning (with international support) to abolish the 'Law 27360' which drastically reduces the legal protection provided to workers in the agricultural industry.

In 2010 Peru exported over 50,000 tonnes to the EU, up 15% from 2009.

Ecuador is the world's largest banana exporter but has one of the lowest levels of trade union organisation in the industry. Although there have been some improvements with the support of the Correa government, an ITUC report published in November 2011 reveals serious violations of labour rights, including trade union rights and discrimination. Click here for the full report.

In 2010 Ecuador exported over 1.2 million tonnes of bananas (one quarter of total exports) into the EU, down nearly 6% from 2009.

Columbia is a major supplier of both conventional and Fairtrade bananas to the world market. It is the most dangerous country in the world to be a trade unionist, although there are now relatively good relations between the plantation workers' union SINTRAINAGRO and the industry.

In 2010 Columbia exported 1.2 million tonnes of bananas into the EU (around three quarters of total exports), down 3.5% from 2009.

Panama's banana exports were almost totally controlled by the multinational company, Chiquita, for decades. In 2003, the company sold its Pacific coast interests to a cooperative of its former workers, but they ran into problems in 2008 and have since ceased trading. Exports are less than one third of the volume trade in the mid-1990s. Members of the SITRAIBANA union on the Atlantic coast faced repression during national protests against a new law in July 2010.

In 2010 Panama exported 183,000 tonnes of bananas into the EU.

Nearly one in four bananas sold in the UK come from Costa Rica. Severe trade union repression is an issue of major concern for the International Labour Organisation (ILO). In 2011 associations linked to the “Solidarismo” movement that is strongly supported by employers has been granted the same status as bona fide trade unions in national Constitution, in contravention of ILO Conventions. Independent trade unions currently represent approximately 5% of banana industry workers.

Costa Rica is the third largest supplier of both the EU and the US, sending 772,000 tonnes of bananas to the EU in 2010.

Nicaragua is a small-scale exporter in global terms, with all its plantations owned by national producers selling to Chiquita. Thousands of banana workers are still fighting to get compensation from multinational companies for the health damages, including death, caused by the use of a highly toxic agrochemical on banana plantations in the 1970s and 80s.

Nicaragua exported exclusively to the US market in 2010.

The Guatemalan industry has undergone a major expansion in the Pacific South. The country is now the second most dangerous in the world to be a trade unionist. A number of banana union leaders have been killed in recent years.

In 2010 Guatemala, the largest supplier of the US market, exported just 3,300 tonnes of bananas into the EU.

In Honduras in 2010, Dole banana workers suffered 360 job losses. The remaining 1,000 workers had their wages, holidays and contract periods greatly reduced in order to 'save' their jobs, or else the company threatened it would move production to where lower paid workers yield higher profits.

In 2010 Honduras exported just over 15 thousand tonnes of bananas into the EU, a massive increase of 78% on 2009.

Dominican Republic is set to overtake Cameroon as the ACP group's largest banana exporter, now producing large quantities of conventional, organic and Fairtrade bananas. The industry has more than doubled in size over the last decade and now employs over 15,000 people, many of whom are migrant workers from neighbouring Haiti.

In 2010 the Dominican Republic exported 1.2 303.5 thousand tonnes of bananas into the EU, up 33.1% from 2009.

The Windward Islands' banana industry has been saved by Fairtrade certification, enabling the 4,000 remaining small producers to compete on the international market.

In 2010 the Windward Islands (St Lucia, St Vincent and Dominica) exported nearly 31 thousand tonnes of bananas into the EU, with St Lucia being the biggest exporter at just over 23 thousand. Exports from Dominica were down nearly 90% on 2009 to just 3.7 thousand.

Guadeloupe & Martinique, overseas départements of France in the Caribbean, represent more than one third of the French banana market. After Hurricane Dean took place in 2007, 100% of banana plantations were destroyed in Martinique and 50% in Guadeloupe.

In Cameroon bananas are the second most important export product in terms of volume after timber. Exports are controlled by two companies: Compagnie Fruitière/Dole and CDC/Del Monte.

In 2010 Cameroon exported 243,000 tonnes of bananas to the EU.

Cote d’Ivoire is one of the biggest West African exporters to the EU, with 2.4 million tonnes exported in 2010, the majority of which is accounted for by plantations linked to the fruit company Dole/Compagnie Fruitière.

Workers have a workplace union but there are concerns about trade union repression, with the general secretary of the ITUC affiliated organisation Dignité being detained without specific charges being brought.

Workers earn just 40 euros per month. Those working in the export sector generally have higher wages and more benefits than those in domestic production.

Ghana has a record of good trade union rights and boasts the first ever fair trade certified plantation. However, research in 2009 revealed that workers on this plantation were still far from earning a sustainable living wage.

In 2010 Ghana exported 52.4 thousand tonnes of bananas to the EU, a massive increase of 43% on 2009.