Costa Rica's Foreign Trade Promotion office has announced melon and banana exports fell by 14.6% and 4.6% respectively in the first three months of 2011, website Misfinanzasenlinea.com reported.

While the banana export figures over the three-month period were not positive, they were an improvement on the fruit's 11.4% export fall during the months of January and February.

The results were released with a report showing the Central American nation's total exports had risen 2.9% during the period, driven by the electrics, electronics, chemicals, plastics, paper and cardboard sales.

Costa Rican Exporters Chamber president Mónica Araya said the agricultural sector had been severely affected in terms of competitiveness, the story reported.

But not all agricultural exports fell during the three months, with pineapple exports rising almost 1%, coffee exports increasing 37%, while beef and milk figures rose by around 20%, the story reported.

Related story: Costa Rica banana exports fall 11.4%

Photo: www.themeloninc.com

Source: www.freshfruitportal.com