WIBDECO Fact Sheet - September 2000

Monthly Fact Sheet - September 2000

Commentary

Export production at the end of September increased to 102,875 tonnes, or 6.8% over the comparative figure for 1999. The forecast for the remainder of the year shows a continuation of this increasing trend with average shipments over 2,800 tonnes weekly.

Fruit quality consistency scores averaged 81.0% PUWS for the month, up from 80.1% last month. Notwithstanding the general improvement, some 20% of the fruit is still falling below the minimum standard of 85% PUWS. With the approaching difficult trading months of November and December, the Banana Companies should re-assess their inspection and selection processes to

Table 1. Banana Exports

Islands	BCOs	Export Production Tonnes
		2000		1999
		SEP	YTD	SEP	YTD
Dominica	DBMC	2,825	19,374	2,575	21,199
St. Lucia	SLBC	4,747	37,418	3,837	36,683
	TQFC	1,002	7,729	1,014	11,175
	ACTCO	516	4,387	-	-
	Ind. Farms	65	272	-	-
	BSMC	531	2,224	-	-
	Total	6,861	52,030	4,851	47,858
St. Vincent	SVBGA	4,004	30,931	3,872	26,879
Grenada	GBCS	92	540	72	430
Windwards		13,782	102,875	11,370	96,366

minimize the amount of below-standard fruit.The EU proposals of October 9, 2000 on a FCFS (first come, first serve) method for reforming the EU banana regime have been strongly rejected by the US, the Latin Americans (except for Ecuador) and the ACP countries. In its present form, the FCFS system would deprive the Windwards of the security of access provided by the current system of quota

Table 2. Quality Scores and Free-On-Truck Price

Banana Companies (BCOs)	QUALITY ASSESSMENT % Premium Fruit				FREE-ON-TRUCK EARNINGS Ł / Box (LCE)
	2000		1999		2000		1999
	SEP	YTD	SEP	YTD	SEP	YTD	SEP	YTD
DBMC	79.5	80.0	76.1	77.8	7.81	8.71	8.51	9.62
SLBC TQFC ACTCO Ind. Farms BSMC St. Lucia BCOs	87.0	76.4	76.2	73.3	8.81	8.76	8.55	9.47
	75.4	78.9	77.6	73.3	7.90	8.67	8.76	9.46
	80.0	71.8	-	-	7.98	8.48	-	-
	92.6	88.9	-	-	8.77	9.04	-	-
	74.1	76.2	-	-	7.48	8.28	-	-
	84.3	75.9	76.5	73.3	8.51	8.70	8.59	9.47
SVBGA	76.7	75.4	82.3	76.2	7.66	8.51	8.92	9.48
GBCS	79.6	72.8	75.6	67.5	7.30	8.03	8.01	8.38
Windwards	81.0	76.5	78.3	75.1	8.10	8.64	8.68	9.50


allocation, with disastrous consequences for the economies and livelihood of the people of the region. It is hoped that the counter-proposals by the US, the majority of Latin-American countries and the ACP would result in a favourable modification by the EU of the proposed FCFS system. Market prices have remained flat, and are expected to fall as we enter the autumn and early winter months. Notwithstanding, WI FOT box prices were extended to the end of the year on volumes up to the averaged loadings for the first 43 shipments for this year. Volume over those capped-tonnages would be paid on market realization. Banana Companies and their growers should therefore strive to maximize their earnings by improving and maintaining the quality of their fruit. Ł/US$ Exchange rates recovered slightly during the month to average US$ 1.4516 or EC$3.9194, a 11.5% reduction in value compared to US$ 1.6401 or EC $ 4.4282 last year. Forecasts to the end of the year are for the average rates to remain around US$ 1.45 level.

YEARS	DOMINICA		ST. LUCIA		ST. VINCENT		GRENADA		WINDWARDS
YEARS	Tonnes	EC$ M	Tonnes	EC$ M	Tonnes	EC$ M	Tonnes	EC$ M	Tonnes	EC$ M
1999	27,264	38.42	65,231	87.00	37,379	51.14	583	0.32	130,456	176.88
1998	28,135	34.96	73,039	91.69	39,885	56.17	94	0.09	141,154	182.91
1997	34,902	41.47	71,397	85.94	31,021	37.11	102	0.00	137,422	164.52
1996	39,533	44.50	104,805	125.80	43,986	52.40	1,850	1.50	190,174	224.20
1995	32,324	45.20	103,668	128.10	49,900	61.30	4,514	5.20	190,406	239.80
1994	42,781	55.40	90,119	115.70	30,925	39.80	4,544	5.60	168,369	216.50
1993	55,486	65.10	120,129	137.90	58,371	62.00	4,688	4.80	238,674	269.80
1992	58,024	82.20	132,854	184.80	77,361	101.40	6,300	7.80	274,539	376.20
1991	55,251	80.90	100,595	146.40	62,878	89.50	6,926	9.90	225,650	326.70
1990	56,617	79.60	133,777	186.90	79,561	110.50	7,486	10.30	277,441	387.30