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Banana Export Import Business Made Easy

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Banana Export Import Business Made Easy

If you're looking for information on bananas Exim, then this article is for you. We'll tell you everything you need to know about these fruits, from how to export them to selecting the best ones.

 

  • Chapter 1:-
    Basic Information
  1. Basic details of banana
  2. Types of bananas
  3. Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits
  4. Banana cultivation in India

 

  • Chapter 2: -

List of products made from banana

 

  • Chapter 3: -

Export banana from India

  1. Countries that import bananas or Top 10 import countries for banana
  2. Countries that export bananas or Top 10 Export countries for banana
  3. Where to source export-quality of banana
  4. How to export bananas from India?

(I will add banana export packaging box size in pt. 4)

 

  • Chapter 4: -

Q & A regarding the banana products

  1. What is a banana extract
  2. Banana leaf export business
  3. How to export banana leaves?
  4. Banana powder export data from India

Chapter 1:- Basic Information

  1. Basic details of banana

 

The banana is the second most important fruit crop in India, after mangoes. Its year-round availability, affordability, wide variety of types, taste, and nutritional and medicinal value make it a favorite fruit among all classes of people. Bananas also have good export potential.
They come from the Musa family of plants, which is native to Southeast Asia and grown in many of the world's warmer areas.

The fruit varies in size, color, and firmness, but is usually elongated and curved, with soft flesh that is rich in starch and covered with a rind. The rind may be green, yellow, red, purple, or brown when the banana is ripe.

 

 

  1. Types of bananas


There are nearly 300 different types of bananas cultivated around the world, but only 15-20 varieties are grown commercially in India. However, the varieties grown in India are well suited to the climate and soil conditions found there.

Here is the list of varieties of bananas which is cultivated in India:

Dwarf Cavendish, Robusta, Monthan, Provan, Nendran, Red banana, Nyali, Safed Velchi, Basrai, Ardhapuri, Rasthali, Karpurvalli, Karthali, and Grand Naine, etc.

 

  1. Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits


Bananas are an excellent source of dietary fiber, potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and various antioxidants and phytonutrients.

The nutrition facts for 1 medium-sized banana (100 grams) are:

Calories: 89

Water: 75%

Protein: 1.1 grams

Carbs: 22.8 grams

Sugar: 12.2 grams

Fiber: 2.6 grams

Fat: 0.3 grams

Bananas are a good source of carbohydrates. They also contain resistant starch, which acts like fiber and helps with gut health and blood sugar levels.

Bananas, like other fruits, contain healthy antioxidants which are responsible for many of their health benefits. These include dopamine and catechin.

Bananas are a good source of fiber. A high fiber intake has been linked to reduced body weight and several other health benefits.

Green unripe bananas contain resistant starch, which has been linked to weight loss and reduced blood sugar levels.

Bananas are high in potassium, which may help lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease.

 

  1. Banana cultivation in India

Source: National Horticulture Board (NHB)

Banana is an important fruit crop globally, with 97.5 million tonnes of production. Andhra Pradesh ranks first in production, with nearly 5838 tonnes at 90,000 hectares. Maharashtra is second in production, with nearly 4628 tonnes at over 80,000 hectares.

Banana contributes 37% to total fruit production in India.

Bananas occupy 20% of the total area under crops in India. Jalgaon is a major Banana-growing district in Maharashtra, occupying 50,000 hectares of area under Banana cultivation.

Source: National Horticulture Board (NHB)                           

Bananas are thought to have originated in the humid tropical regions of southeast Asia. They have now grown in around 120 countries throughout the world’s warm tropical areas. In India, bananas are harvested year-round, with peak production occurring between August and October. Bananas account for 20% of the total area under crop cultivation in India. This tropical crop thrives in temperatures ranging from 15 to 35 degrees Celsius and relative humidity levels of 75% to 85%.
The crop is ready for harvest 12-15 months after planting. The primary harvesting season of bananas is from September to April, although in some southern states, bananas can be harvested year-round. In states like Gujarat, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh,
and Jharkhand, the harvesting season begins in September and ends in November.
The year-round banana season in India makes it a vital part of both the processing industry and retail markets.

 

Chapter 2: -List of products made from banana

 

Bananas and plantains are both consumed as fruits, but plantains remain starchy even when ripe and need to be cooked before consumption. Bananas and plantains are originally from the humid tropics but have acclimatized to a broad range of climatic conditions.

There are many ways to preserve bananas so that they can have a longer shelf life and be more valuable on the market. Processing the fruit is one way to achieve this. Ripe bananas can be used in a number of ways as part of the human diet. They can be peeled and eaten raw, or sliced and served as part of a fruit cup, salad, sandwich, custard, or gelatin. Bananas can also be mashed and incorporated into ice cream, bread, muffins, or cream pies. There are thousands of value-added products that can be made from bananas. Some of these are described below.
 

Vacuum Fried Banana Chips:

Banana chips are made by deep-frying raw or ripe bananas, usually in coconut oil. This extends the shelf life of bananas, but deep fat frying increases the oil content and darkens the color of chips due to their sugar content. Raw banana chips are produced without removing the peel; this could enrich the fiber content of the banana chips and also enhance their appearance.

The fried banana chips made with this vacuum frying technology can be stored for a longer period of time under active modified atmosphere packaging using nitrogen flushing.

 

Osmo Vacuum-IMF Dried banana:

Osmotic dehydration is one the food preservation techniques used for partial removal of water from fruits by immersing in aqueous solutions Osmotic dehydration is a food preservation technique that is used to remove water from fruits partially. This is done by immersing the fruit in an aqueous solution that has high osmotic pressure, such as sugar or salt. For this process, ripe bananas are sliced and soaked in sugar syrup. The Osmo-vac-dried banana is an intermediate moisture food product that not only tastes delicious but also preserves attractive color and nutritional elements.

This processed product has a shelf life of six months, which is an advantage over-ripened bananas, which often go to waste.

 

Fiber-enriched Banana Peel Pasta:

At present, consumers are focusing on healthy and nutritive processed products. The pasta that we usually get in the market has refined wheat flour as a major ingredient. In the nutritional aspect, fiber-enriched pasta has good marketability. Banana peel is a major byproduct of the banana flour industry; it has good fiber content and can be used for making pasta. Banana peel powder is made by washing, blanching, and drying the peels, then grinding them into a powder. This standardized, fiber-enriched pasta is good for weight loss and reducing constipation problems. It is also rich in antioxidants. Banana peel pasta has a shelf life of more than one year.

Raw Banana Flour:

Source: - Ministry of food processing industries

Banana flour is a powder made from processed bananas. It is high in starch and has a good water absorption capacity. This makes it suitable for use as a functional agent in bakery products. Banana flour is shelf-stable for over one year.

Chapter 3: - Export bananas from India

 

  1. Countries that import bananas or Top 10 import countries for bananas:

Source: - ITC Trade map

According to the trade map, the USA is the leading importer of bananas, importing more than 2.5 billion USD. Germany, Russia, China & Japan are also leading importers.

Source: - ITC Trade map

Now this trade data shows that these countries are importing bananas from India. We mostly export to middle eastern countries because those countries don't have the weather conditions necessary to grow bananas. These countries depend on us for their banana supplies most of the time.

  1. Countries that export bananas or Top 10 Export countries for bananas:

Source: - ITC Trade map

According to the Banana and Plantain Cluster of Ecuador, an association that draws together the country’s biggest banana growers and exporters, 17.5 million boxes of bananas were sent from Ecuador to China in 2020. That number then dropped to 10.9 million boxes in 2021 – a 37.7% drop in the same period for the previous year.

However, India holds the 19th position in export all over the world.

India's exports represent 1.1% of world exports for this product in 2021, due to the large domestic market.

 

  1. Where to source export-quality of bananas:

Andhra Pradesh is currently the leading source of bananas in India. Maharashtra, Gujrat, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are also major contributors.

Source National Horticulture Board

 

When sourcing bananas, there are a few things to keep in mind, such as (for export purposes)

  • Always go for an experienced supplier when sourcing for a start-up company.
  • Before dealing with them, try to find out about their product quality from other organizations or people who source from them.
  • Make sure that the farm is registered with the State Horticulture Department. This department can help farmers cultivate bananas to meet export quality standards by maintaining all parameters.
  • Visit the farm in person to get an idea about their hands-on experience.
  • Be good at communication as continuous price negotiations may take place with your suppliers in order to optimize our prices.
  • It's important to always have more than three suppliers on hand. This way, you can get an accurate average cost, and you won't be too reliant on any one supplier.

If you are looking for a sourcing agent to help you to get a Quality product at a competitive price, then we can help you.
Click Here> https://www.fiverr.com/ibshubham

 

  1. How to export bananas from India?

If you are starting a business that will involve importing and exporting, it is important to learn about the process and have the proper knowledge. There are many institutes in India that offer courses on import-export trade, both in theory and practice. The cost of these courses can vary depending on the location and state. If you are on a tight budget, we suggest joining Barai Overseas, where you can learn about importing and exporting at an affordable cost.

After you have the requisite international trade knowledge and product knowledge, you can proceed to the next step, which is to obtain the Registration-Cum-Membership-Certificate (RCMC) of APEDA.

Once you have decided on the target country for your product, start marketing by attending an international trade fair or, if you have the budget, by visiting that country for one-on-one conversations with buyers. In this case, buyers will be more likely to trust you, and there is a 95% chance of success if you explain your product well.

If you don't have a budget for marketing, you can still reach buyers effectively through email, calls, and by hiring virtual assistants. Virtual assistants can talk to buyers on behalf of your company

If you're able to secure a deal, make sure you ask your buyer for product details, such as:

Type of Banana:-
Quality of Banana
:- 4\5\6 hands A grade Quality(premium), 7 to 9 Inch
                                       7 hands B grade Quality  below & Inch
                                 Ask the ratio of each hand
(Group of 12-16 bananas called as 1 hand, avg. weight of 1 hand is around 2.5 to 2.8 kg for Cavendish G-9 banana only)


Treatment for bananas:
Dip banana in chlorine/bleaching water for 5 min.

Dip banana in clean water for 5 min.

Dip banana in Alam water for 5 min.

Then dry in the open air


banana export packaging box size:
Packaging: Net weight & gross weight per box
                   Imported Quality or standard box or as per buyer requirement.
Ask buyers if they want an Ethylene Sachet for ripening. Or they will do it themselves with the help of a ripening chamber in their country.

In the end, try to ask for the target price so we have an idea of what price the buyer wants.

Once we have done all things, keep the banana at cold storage for a minimum of 7-8 hours, because they came directly from the farm. And we have to maintain the temp. of banana around 13-13.5 degrees Celsius.

Ask CHA if we are going to stuff containers at the farm. So CHA will get permission from the customs to allow us to stuff containers at the farm.

Load all the boxes into the container while keeping the temperature around 13 degrees Celsius.

Documents required for export
Various documents are needed to export bananas, such as a packing list, invoice, certificate of origin, shipment-related documents, Airway Bill or Bill of lading, Letter of Credit (L/C) Documents related to Payment, and Bill of Exchange.

It is also essential to have documents related to the quality of the goods. For instance, health certificates, Phyto-sanitary certificates, GLOBALGAP Certifications, and Organic Certifications (If applicable) are compulsory.

It is important to ensure that your container is ready with customs clearance before it arrives at the port.
We suggest keeping your buyer updated on all aspects of the export process.

Pro Tip: - If you're interested in starting a banana export business, you'll need to have strong knowledge about the product, market research, and analysis in both domestic and international markets. This article can help you get a good amount of knowledge, but in the end, you'll need to meet with people who have actual experience and knowledge in this field. Try to learn as much as possible from them, instead of asking about the profit margin. Ask them how to tackle issues during the whole export cycle, so you can avoid losses.

Chapter 4: -Q & A regarding the banana products

1)What is a banana extract?

Ans. Banana extract is available in both liquid and powder form. Traditional liquid banana extract is made from the puree of yellow bananas, while the powder form is typically made from dehydrated banana peel and fruit.

Liquid banana extract is used primarily in food preparation by both home cooks and the food industry, while the powdered form is more commonly used in baked goods and ice cream.

These products are cholesterol- and sugar-free, and they add few calories due to the small amounts required for flavoring in most recipes.

2)Banana leaf export business



Ans. Banana leaves have an HS code of 07099920 and are in high demand in gulf countries. This is due to the fact that most hotels in gulf countries are managed and run by south Indian people, who have a strong preference for bananas. As a result, there is always a strong demand for bananas in gulf restaurants.

 

3)How to export banana leaves?

Ans. Banana leaves are in high demand due to their many uses in daily life. They are part of the banana plant, a tropical plant with high economic value. Each banana plant can harvest 40 large banana leaves during its growth cycle.

Banana leaves are used in cooking, wrapping, and processing traditional dishes of Asian people. They are also used for decoration and effective healing.

Uses of banana leaves

Cure sore throat

Effective fever reduction

Banana leaves help heal wounds

The production process of frozen banana leaves for exporting

Soaking

After being harvested, banana leaves are put through an ozone soak system to disinfect them and reduce the leaf temperature. This prevents wilting and yellowing leaves from being stored and waiting to be put into production.

Draining

After being removed from the soaking tub, it will be forced to drain by a large-capacity industrial fan system.

Cleaning surface leaf

Use a clean cloth to wipe the surface of the leaves to ensure the removal of white powder as well as any remaining foreign objects.

Packing

Before leaves are placed into PA bags, they are first folded into a cube shape. The size of the bags is 0.5kg or 1kg.

4)Banana powder export data from India

Ans. Banana powder is traded all around the world, and India is a major exporter of this commodity. Our export analysis shows that there are almost 107 countries and territories which actively import banana powder from India. The combined value of total exports is 4.42 USD million.

List of importing markets for the product exported by India in 2021

India's exports represent 1.5% of world exports for this product, it's ranking in world exports is 12.

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