WIBDECO Fact Sheet - November 2000

Monthly Fact Sheet - November 2000

Commentary

Export production at the end of November increased to 126,521 tonnes, or 7.3% over the comparative figure for 1999, and is on target to reach the 1998 levels of 141,000 tonnes.

Fruit quality consistency scores averaged 82.1% PUWS for the month, up from 79.7% last month. The major defect continued to be R&T fruit predominantly from St. Lucia. The increased inspection and selection processes have minimized the amount of below-standard fruit being exported.

Recent discussions between the EU and US broke-down on the question of licences allocation. It appears that the EU is

Table 1. Banana Exports

Islands	BCOs	Export Production Tonnes
		2000		1999
		NOV	YTD	NOV	YTD
Dominica	DBMC	2,448	24,315	1,686	25,217
St. Lucia	SLBC	3,908	45,617	4,333	45,374
	TQFC	878	9,508	1,024	13,241
	ACTCO	414	5,244	-	-
	Ind.Farms	65	397	-	-
	BSML	385	2,996	-	-
	Total	5,650	63,762	5,357	58,615
St. Vincent	SVBGA	3,466	37,774	3,208	33,575
Grenada	GBCS	63	670	50	540
Windwards		11,627	126,521	10,301	117,947

determined to proceed with the FCFS arrangements unless there is some real and substantial improvement in the counter offer by the US for the pre-1993 operators. It is hoped that the European Parliament and the General Affairs Council could be persuaded to defer consideration of the matter to enable further dialogue.

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
	NOV	YTD	NOV	YTD	NOV	YTD	NOV	YTD
DBMC	78.2	79.6	78.7	78.3	7.47	8.57	8.81	9.54
SLBC TQFC ACTCO Ind. Farms BSMC St. Lucia BCOs	84.6	78.0	78.2	74.6	7.93	8.57	8.76	9.39
	86.8	77.0	78.1	74.3	7.65	8.57	9.15	9.44
	83.8	73.8	-	-	7.66	8.40	-	-
	98.3	90.1	-	-	8.10	8.87	-	-
	79.3	77.4	-	-	7.98	8.23	-	-
	84.7	77.5	78.2	74.5	7.88	8.54	8.83	9.40
SVBGA	80.5	75.8	75.9	76.7	7.42	8.40	8.74	9.40
GBCS	87.8	74.0	65.2	67.9	6.58	7.87	7.36	8.26
Windwards	82.1	77.4	77.5	75.9	7.66	8.50	8.79	9.43

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


Banana prices on the Continent are averaging Ł6.73 per LCE. WI FOT box prices are guaranteed on volumes up to the averaged loadings for the first 43 shipments for this year. The surplus volume will be paid on market realization. Some surplus fruit will be diverted to other EU markets and, based on current prices, are not expected to be yield more than Ł4.50 per LCE box. Banana Companies and growers will have to give serious consideration to the economics, and otherwise, of shipping the surplus volume. Ł/US$ Exchange rates declined to average US$ 1.4399 or EC$3.8876 for the month - a 14.4% reduction in value compared to US$ 1.6474 or EC $ 4.4479 last year. There are no signs of any recovery and forecasts to the end of the year are for average rates to remain around US$ 1.45 level.