Brazil and India are the two biggest banana producing countries in the world, but India hardly has a significant share in the International trade, accounting for just 0.02 per cent of the total of 90.7 million tonnes, the Confederation of Indian Industry's feasibility report on banana trade said.
"India while being the largest producer of Banana at about 28 per cent of world production, does not account as one of the banana trading nations.
"Total exports of Banana from India are about 0.03 million tonnes out of the total exports of 14.58 million tonnes, constituting 0.02 per cent of world trade", the report said.
India exports to United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Kuwait, Bahrain, Nepal, Qatar, Oman, Maldives and the Korean republic. In volume terms India exports constitute 4.50 crore units, it said.
In 2011-12, 21,525 metric tonnes of banana were exported of the total 2,56,767 fresh fruit exports from the country.
In value terms, banana exports slipped to Rs 29.39 crore (from Rs 81.19 crore in 2010-11) of total fresh fruit exports of Rs 735.83 crore in 2011-12. In 2010-11, it was Rs 495.98 crore.
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In volume terms, exports of banana stood at 34,711 units of the total fresh fruits of 2,54,900 in 2010-11.
The report said the share of banana in total fresh fruit exports declined due to low pricing in the International market.
Noting that developing countries account for bulk of Banana exports in world trade, it said the largest banana exporters were Ecuador at 18 per cent, Costa Rica 12 per cent, Columbia 12 per cent, Honduras 11 per cent, Philippines 11 per cent and Panama six per cent.
"These six countries account for 73 per cent of the banana trade", it said, adding USA and the European Union are major banana consumers. (MORE)