Widespread ban on imports from the Philippines by Iran, will prove a blessing for Indian banana exporters, who are are likely to increase the fruit shipments to Rs 200 crore this fiscal, according to agri-export promotion body APEDA.
"There is a strong demand for Indian bananas in the global market due to world class quality and competitive prices.
Ban on the Philippine bananas by Iran would further boost the country's overall exports, which may touch a record Rs 200 crore this year," a senior official of the Agricultural and processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) told PTI.
Last year, India, the world's largest producer of banana, had exported 54,319 tonnes of the fruit, estimated at Rs 130 crore, largely to Middle-eastern nations, he said.
"Due to the ban on Philippine bananas, there has been a strong demand for our fruit. Our traders have started receiving enquiries and the outbound shipments to Iran are set to increase by 50 per cent this year," he said.
India had exported 5,203 tonnes of banana valued at Rs 12 crore in the 2009-10 fiscal to Iran.
Indian banana is competitively priced in the global market because of its superior quality. "Last year, we exported banana to Iran at Rs 23 per kg and this year we expect over Rs 26 per kg due to robust demand," the official added.
Last month, the Iranian government had banned import of 49 products including Philippines' bananas for indefinite period. Iran was one of the largest markets for the Philippines' Cavendish bananas, the APEDA said.
Philippines, the world's third largest exporter of banana after Ecuador and Panama, annually exports $175 million worth bananas, according to trade data.
Banana production in India on an average is around 26 million tonnes. Maharashtra, Gujarat and southern states are big producing states of the fruit in the country.
