Diversificación de mercados para la exportación de banano ecuatoriano : análisis de competitividad 2018-2024.

Abstract

Ecuador has consolidated its position as the world’s leading exporter of bananas; however, in recent years its target markets have been increasingly threatened by competitors with accelerated growth rates. This study analyzes the international competitiveness of Ecuadorian bananas to identify the variables with the greatest impact on export performance. The findings indicate that distance, foreign direct investment, and gross capital formation exerted a negative effect in the general estimations, while in agriculture sector estimations, distance and gross capital formation remained negative. This outcome reflects the fact that the analyzed economies do not prioritize the banana sector in their long-term investment strategies, forcing the industry to rely on previously established mechanisms. In contrast, the key positive determinant was banana production capacity, driven by scaling economies, accumulated experience, and sectorial specialization. The study concludes that the long-term sustainability of the sector depends on a diversification strategy toward new markets in order to preserve international competitiveness.