Banana exporters in the Philippines are anticipating a rise in shipments to Iran this year following the lifting of sanctions against the country, according to a report from Sun Star. Stephen Antig, executive director of the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association, said Iran had previously encountered problems making payments due to the freezing of bank accounts. Nevertheless, Iran is still the Philippines’ third biggest export destination for fresh and dried bananas, including plantains after Japan and China. This year, according to Antig, Iranian demand stands at 48m boxes, each box weighing around 13kg. According to a report from the Philippine Quarantine Service, a total of more than six million boxes were exported to Iran in the year to June 2013 compared with 9.5 boxes the previous year.
