The Ecuadorian Federation of Exporters (Fedexpor) released data showing a decrease in banana exports the first quarter of this year while citing a slow economic recovery in destination countries and the impact of confinement measures in some countries as the two main factors. When compared to the same time last year, banana exports decreased by 12 percent. The director of the Banana Marketing and Export Association (Acorbanec), Richard Salazar, told El Comercio that these results were influenced by the reduction in demand for fruit in Russia, China, the Middle East, and the European Union. The president of Fedexpor, Felipa Ribadeneira, stated that the first quarter of 2020 couldn’t be compared to the same period this year because growers and markets weren’t fully affected by the pandemic.