Banana companies bounce back from Hurricane Mitch

18 November 1998

Banana companies bounce back from Hurricane Mitch

BANANA companies in Honduras are bullish about a return to production after the devastation wrought by Hurricane Mitch.

Standard Fruit believes that 20% of its 6800 hectare (16,802 acre) of plantations have escaped unscathed and forecasts that normal production could resume by January.

Chiquita, which owns 7000 hectare (17,296 acre), also looks like it will be able to restore some production.

Honduras pulled in more than $200 million (£120m) in 1997 through bananas – the countrys most important export after coffee.

• Financial Times 18/11/98 page 40