Santa Catarina Leads Banana Exports, Expects Record Harvest in 2025

Santa Catarina is expecting a record banana harvest in 2025. At the national level, the nanica and prata varieties are expected to see price increases, driven by reduced supply caused by low temperatures that affect bunch development.

For the 2024/25 harvest, production in the state is projected to rise by 17.5%, potentially reaching 768,000 tons, supported by an expansion in cultivated area, which now totals 28,400 hectares. Production of banana-caturra is expected to grow by 18%, while banana-prata is projected to increase by 15.2% compared to the previous harvest.

According to Rogério Goulart Júnior, an analyst in Socioeconomics and Rural Development at Epagri/Cepa, the banana sector in Santa Catarina has faced a challenging environment, mainly due to weather conditions. “We had frequent rain and a frost in June that compromised the quality of the bunches. Many producers had to harvest before the ideal ripening point, which further impacted the market,” he noted.

Santa Catarina’s banana market experienced a period of devaluation in May and June 2025. Prices paid to producers for banana-caturra fell by 25.3%, reflecting an increase in supply. Banana-prata also saw a decline of 16.4%, influenced by competition from other seasonal fruits and a drop in demand.

For July, prices for caturra bananas are expected to recover, due to reduced supply caused by slower fruit development. In the case of Banana-prata, prices are likely to remain stable, still influenced by the presence of other fruits in the market.

“The expectation is for price increases due to lower supply, caused by low temperatures and weaker bunch development in the banana plantations. Banana-caturra should see a recovery in prices, while banana-prata tends to remain stable, supported by more balanced demand during this period,” Goulart projected.

Foreign Trade thematic panel

According to the Foreign Trade thematic panel from the Agro Catarinense Observatory, Santa Catarina remains Brazil’s leading banana exporter in 2025. Between January and June, Brazil exported 43,800 tons of bananas, generating US$15.7 million in revenue. Santa Catarina accounted for nearly 50% of that volume, with 21,800 tons, representing a 103% increase compared to the same period in 2024. The state generated US$7.2 million, equivalent to 45.9% of national banana export revenue in the first half of 2025.

The thematic panel data from the Agro Catarinense Observatory is updated monthly, enabling not only tracking of Santa Catarina’s trade balance fluctuations but also comparisons between the state’s performance and that of the rest of the country.

The main buyers of bananas from Santa Catarina are Argentina, responsible for 62% of exports and generating US$4.5 million, followed by Uruguay, which accounts for 37.8% of exports and generates US$2.7 million. According to Epagri/Cepa analyst Rogério Goulart Júnior, international market prospects for the sector are positive. “Santa Catarina recorded significant growth in Brazilian banana exports in the first half of 2025. For the second half, a seasonal drop in supply is expected, but with the prospect of better export prices compared to previous years,” the analyst concluded.

Source: Carneiro News

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