Higher export volumes from the Philippines helped drive a recovery in global banana trade during the first nine months of 2025, according to a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
The UN FAO said the increase in supply marked a noticeable rebound after several years of decline. Colombia and the Philippines recorded double-digit growth in banana exports, adding a combined 900,000 metric tons to global supply.
Preliminary estimates indicate that global banana exports, excluding plantain, could rise by 6% in 2025 to more than 20.82 million metric tons.
Export trends varied across regions. Central American producers faced declines, while South America and Asia posted strong growth. Exports from Asia are projected to increase by 24% to nearly 5.19 million metric tons in 2025, up from 4.18 million metric tons a year earlier.
Shipments from the Philippines are forecast to climb by 26% to 2.92 million metric tons for the full year, based on export data through August 2025. This represents an increase of about 600,000 metric tons from 2024 levels.
The UN FAO attributed the rise partly to production gains supported by investments from the Philippine Department of Agriculture, including the use of organic fertilizers, particularly in the Cagayan Valley region.
Other Asian exporters also recorded strong growth. Banana exports from India are expected to rise by 25%to 955,000 metric tons in 2025, while shipments from Vietnam are forecast to increase by 24% to 500,000 metric tons.
Exports from Cambodia are projected to grow by 21% to 314,000 metric tons. The FAO said rising demand from China and the Middle East has been a key driver of this expansion.
On the import side, global banana imports are expected to increase by 5% to 19.89 million metric tons in 2025, based on preliminary data from January to September. While demand growth in developed markets remained modest and imports contracted in the United States, large increases were recorded in China and the Russian Federation.
China’s net banana imports rose by 24% during the first nine months of the year due to shortages in domestic supply. Total imports are estimated to reach 2.04 million metric tons in 2025, accounting for about 10% of global imports.
China, the world’s third-largest banana importer, recorded double-digit growth in shipments from Vietnam, the Philippines, Ecuador, and Cambodia.
Imports into Japan are forecast to grow by 2% to 1.06 million metric tons, despite declining demographics and a relatively saturated per capita consumption of around 8.5 kilograms annually. Japan’s import volumes were supported by increased supply from the Philippines, which meets about 75 to 80% of its banana demand, and a sharp rise in imports from Vietnam.
Monthly trade data showed that average import unit values for bananas entering Japan rose by 5% to $1,012 per metric ton during the first nine months of 2025, reflecting firmer prices amid improved supply conditions.
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