Global Market Report: Banana prices and sustainability

This report analyzes sustainable production and consumption trends in the global banana industry, focusing on the role of voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) in supporting producers against price fluctuations and environmental risks.

• Bananas produced according to voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) accounted for at least 9% of global production in 2019, following a compound annual growth rate of 32%–35% from 2008 to 2019, though this growth is now slowing.
• Producers in major exporting countries associated with at least one VSS can earn prices between 60% and 100% higher than those selling conventional bananas, who face competition from artificially low prices.
• Bananas and plantains serve as the fourth most important staple crop globally, supporting food and nutritional security for 400 million people in producing countries.
• Banana supply chains are vulnerable to economic disruptions—including the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the COVID-19 pandemic, and fossil fuel price variations—as well as climate change and pests like the Tropical Race 4 fungus.
• Voluntary sustainability standards such as Fairtrade International, Organic, GlobalG.A.P., and the Rainforest Alliance enhance producer resilience through minimum prices, premiums, base wages, and soil preservation requirements to combat drought.

APA

Luna,, V. V. B. J. F. L. (2023). Global Market Report: Banana prices and sustainability. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/global-market-report-banana

Chicago

Luna,, Vivek Voora,Steffany Bermúdez,Johanna Joy Farrell,Cristina Larrea,Erika. Global Market Report: Banana prices and sustainability. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2023. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/global-market-report-banana.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Luna, |first1=Vivek Voora,Steffany Bermúdez,Johanna Joy Farrell,Cristina Larrea,Erika |title=Global Market Report: Banana prices and sustainability |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=20 March 2023 |url=https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/global-market-report-banana |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{luna2023global, author = {Luna,, Vivek Voora,Steffany Bermúdez,Johanna Joy Farrell,Cristina Larrea,Erika}, title = {{Global Market Report: Banana prices and sustainability}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2023}, month = mar, url = {https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/global-market-report-banana}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }