Major Developments And Recent Trends In International Banana Marketing Structures
Resumen del Libro
This document analyses the evolution of the international banana market structure, with special emphasis on the evolving role of transnational banana marketing companies and the factors affecting international supply and demand for bananas during the 1990s. Whereas the international banana trade earlier had a supply or producer orientation, whereby banana multinationals defined the rules of the game, the market has lately become more demand driven. Banana consumers have become a key factor and concentration and consolidation of food retail chains have led to an increase in their participation in the banana market. These emerging trends may yield new opportunities for the small and medium-sized banana producers in developing countries. According to various analyses, these producers occupy a disadvantaged position in the banana supply chain. Banana terms of trade have continued to deteriorate and producers have not seen any improvement in their share of profits. The present study is based to a great extent on data from, and work done by, the Food and Agriculture Organizations Intergovernmental Group on Bananas and Tropical Fruits. –Introd.
