Bananas lead U.S. imports from Central America

U.S. imports of Central American bananas totaled $1.8 billion from November 2022 to October 2023, trade figures show.

Inflation has been tame for banana imports.
Inflation has been tame for banana imports.
(File image)

Bananas were the top U.S. produce import from Central America from November 2022 to October 2023, trade figures show.

U.S. imports of Central American bananas totaled $1.8 billion during the period, up 9% from 2022 and up 11% from 2018.

By import value, USDA numbers show the top U.S. imports of Central American produce commodities were bananas, pineapples, melons, beans, peas and okra.

Below are the values of Central American produce imports from November 2022 through October 2023, with comparisons to the same period in 2022 and 2018:

  • Bananas — $1.8 billion, up 9% from 2022 and up 11% from 2018.
  • Pineapples — $775.9 million, up 3% from 2022 and up 23% from 2018.
  • Melons — $388.2 million, up 36% from 2022 and up 11% from 2018.
  • Beans — $90.3 million, down 2% from 2022 but up 42% from 2018.
  • Peas — $50.3 million, up 1% from 2022 and up 20% from 2018.
  • Okra — $31.5 million, up 9% from 2022 and up 3% from 2018.
  • Cauliflower and broccoli — $29.9 million, up 28% from 2022 and up more than 10,000% from 2018.
  • Peppers — $28.7 million, up 24% from 2022 and up 27% from 2018.
  • Tomatoes — $23.5 million, up 18% from 2022 and up 69% from 2018.
  • Mangoes — $18.9 million, up 3% from 2022 and up 21% from 2018.
  • Carrots — $15.3 million, up 22% from 2022 and up 87% from 2018.
  • Strawberries — $13.9 million, up 58% from 2022 and up 8,038% from 2018.
  • Berries (excluding strawberries) — $10.8 million, down 11% from 2022 but up 73% from 2018.
  • Eggplant — $8.7 million, up 10% from 2022 and up 70% from 2018.
  • Squash — $8.4 million, up 47% from 2022 and up 52% from 2018.
  • Cucumbers — $5 million, up 4% from 2022 but down 17% from 2018.
  • Citrus — $3.5 million, down 44% from 2022 but up 32% from 2018.
  • Endive — $1.5 million, up 58% from 2022 and up 342% from 2018.
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