The Trade for Development Centre (a Belgian Development Agency programme) reports the main findings of an investigation into how banana value chains in Europe operate. Published by BASIC (the Bureau for Appraisal of Social Impacts for Citizen information) “Banana value chains in Europe and the consequences of Unfair Trading Practices” estimates that the 25% decline in wholesale prices since 2001 has translated into a loss of revenue in the countries supplying the EU at a time when both production and living costs have been going up. Meanwhile, retailers increased their share of the banana value to around 40%.
The report is based on research commissioned by Banana Link and Fair Trade Advocacy Office as part of the Make Fruit Fair consortium.