By first looking at production numbers, it is clear that Brazil and Ecuador are the major players in this field; however, one should not overlook the other four. They still produce a significant amount of bananas. It seems as though the Latin American countries are facing a bit of a recession in banana production, as four of the big six, including Brazil and Ecuador, are producing less bananas. Furthermore, the two countries that gained production have small gains in comparison with the losses. How is this possible with the world consuming more and more bananas every year?

The answer appears if one looks at the second graph, which shows their export numbers. Compared with other countries around the world who produce bananas, Latin American countries consume very little of their own bananas. Instead they export them around the world. Latin American countries are responsible for approximately 65%-70% of the world's exports, While Ecuador, Colombia, and Costa Rica account for almost all of that percentage. The only competition they face really is from Indonesia, although there still is the potential for competition from ACP countries and some Asian others. Ecuador in particular, in this past decade, has solidified itself as the world leader in banana exporting. This is quite a favorable position to be in, considering the past and potential growth for the most important fruit in the world.