After 10 months of government and industry efforts to revive banana production in Panama's Bocas del Toro region, Chiquita is set to export approximately 11 million boxes this year, with projections of around 15 million boxes in the following year. The announcement was made at an official event marking the restart of Chiquita's operations in the region.
Bocas del Toro is a historically significant banana-producing zone, and Chiquita's reactivation there represents a meaningful addition to North American banana supply. The banana market has been under pressure from rising logistics costs and inflation, with the traditional loss-leader pricing model showing cracks — additional volume from Panama adds to supply-side dynamics at a sensitive moment.
Watch for how this new Panama volume integrates into Chiquita's broader North American supply chain over the coming months. Buyers tracking banana program costs and availability should factor in the ramp-up timeline as the 11 million box target plays out through the remainder of 2026.