Port of Itajaí leads task force to open European market for Santa Catarina bananas

Seeking to diversify exports and strengthen the banana production chain, the Port of Itajaí is leading a task force that brings together Brazil’s federal government, local mayors, producers and industry groups to secure access for Santa Catarina–grown bananas to the European market, with Italy as a primary target.

The initiative was discussed on Tuesday during a meeting held at the Port of Itajaí, attended by mayors from banana-producing municipalities, growers, industry associations, the Santa Catarina Banana Growers Federation (Febanana), as well as federal government representatives and political leaders. The meeting marked a concrete step forward in efforts to expand export destinations for Santa Catarina bananas and reduce reliance on traditional Mercosur markets.

Port of Itajaí Superintendent João Paulo Tavares Bastos said the talks are already yielding practical results.

“Today we held an extremely productive meeting aimed at taking Brazilian products abroad. We recently received an order for bananas bound for the Calabria region,” Bastos said. “Now we will carry out a technical visit and, together with ApexBrasil, Sebrae, producers, mayors, Febanana and industry associations, we are structuring a project to export our high-quality bananas to Europe.”

Representing Brazil’s Agriculture Ministry, Ivanor Boing, superintendent of agriculture and livestock in Santa Catarina (SFA-SC), highlighted the federal government’s role in opening new markets.

“This closer coordination between the Port of Itajaí, the Agriculture Ministry and producers creates the alignment needed to open a new market for Brazilian bananas, especially those produced in Santa Catarina,” Boing said.

Speaking for growers, Eliane Cristina Müller, president of the Corupá Banana Growers Association, underscored both the international recognition of Santa Catarina bananas and the importance of industry organizations.

“It has always been a major goal for Santa Catarina producers to open new markets,” Müller said. “Today, about 15% of our production is exported to Uruguay and Argentina. The prospect of exporting to Italy gives us great optimism, especially because Santa Catarina bananas have geographical indications, which are highly valued in the European market.”

The meeting reinforced the strategic role of the Port of Itajaí as a logistics platform for exporting products from Santa Catarina, linking regional production to high value-added markets and supporting the state’s economic development.

BOX | BANANA PRODUCTION IN SANTA CATARINA

• Santa Catarina is one of Brazil’s leading banana-producing regions, with a strong presence of family farming.
• Main producing areas: northern and northeastern Santa Catarina, the Upper Itajaí Valley, and the Tijucas River Valley.
• Current exports: about 15% of Santa Catarina’s banana output is shipped abroad, mainly to Uruguay and Argentina.
• New market under discussion: Europe, with a focus on Italy, expanding trade horizons and reducing dependence on Mercosur.
• Competitive edge: Santa Catarina bananas hold Geographical Indications (Denomination of Origin and Indication of Provenance), attributes highly valued in Europe.
• Added value: beyond fresh fruit, the supply chain includes products such as dried bananas, banana biomass, banana flour and other derivatives.

Source: Porto de Itajaí

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