Ecuador holds world ‘banana king’ title with $4.3 billion in exports but El Niño poses a challenge

Ecuador is the world’s undisputed leader in banana exports, holding more than a two-to-one lead over the second-place Philippines. In 2025, Ecuador exported $4.3 billion in bananas to the Philippines’ $1.7 billion, according to the World Bank.

The banana industry is Ecuador’s largest employer.

The banana industry is Ecuador’s largest employer, according to the bank, with an estimated 365,000 people working in the fields and in the packing plants.

After Ecuador and the Philippines, the largest banana exporters are Colombia ($1.5 billion), Costa Rica ($1.1 billion), the Netherlands ($928 million), Belgium ($919 million) and the U.S. $577 million).

Most of the banana production is concentrated in Guayas Province, with El Oro, Manabi and Esmeraldas Provinces also producing large crops. Packed bananas are shipped primarily from ports in Guayaquil and Machala.

Ecuador’s Agriculture Ministry reports that El Niño presents a major challenge to the banana crop in 2026 and 2027. “The primary concern is fungus infecting the plants since many of the fields are suffering flooding from heavy rain and this is being monitored closely,” the ministry said in a bulletin.

Besides fungus concerns, the ministry added that banana plants have the ability to withstand standing water for extended periods without damage to the fruit, which is located high on the plants.