Banana leaf export is not a new business, but the market is extremely potential. Therefore, the export of banana leaves in the coming time is still very promising and the market is still very large for banana leaf manufacturers to exploit. One of the main challenges for exporting banana leaf is to find the most accurate HS code and calculate all the duties, of course correctly! To calculate all tariffs and duties, we strongly recommend to use Deepbeez Customs Duties Calculator.

Top 8 Banana Leaf Exporting Country

In 2025, the international banana leaf export market showcased some fascinating trends that reveal just how interconnected our food systems really are and which countries are among the top exporters of fresh banana leaves. If you are exporting banana leaf to USA, you have to be familiar with the import tax from India to USA. You also need to calculate all the duties and taxes beforehand to get an assumption of how much your costs will be.

Rank	Country	Number of Shipments (2025)
1	India	29,558 shipments
2	Vietnam	2,392 shipments
3	Thailand	1,419 shipments
4	Philippines	1,260 shipments
5	China	805 shipments
6	Ecuador	527 shipments
7	Indonesia	245 shipments
8	Guatemala	245 shipments

7 Reasons Why Banana Leaf Export is a Lucrative Business

Here are some reasons why banana leaf export is a lucrative business.

1. Banana leaves are widely used in various cuisines and cultures

Banana leaves are used as a natural wrapper for cooking food, such as rice, fish, meat, and desserts. They impart a subtle aroma and flavor to the food, as well as keep it moist and tender. Banana leaves are also used as plates, bowls, and utensils in some regions, especially in Southeast Asia and India. They are biodegradable and eco-friendly alternatives to plastic or paper. In order to export banana leaf to other countries, you need to find the most accurate HS code for your product. Here comes the most challenging part. How to find HS code of product?

2. Banana leaves are abundant and cheap

Bananas are one of the most produced and consumed fruits globally, with more than 1 000 varieties of bananas existing in the world. Bananas are predominantly produced in Asia, Latin America and Africa, with India and China being the largest producers for domestic consumption. The banana plant produces large and sturdy leaves that can be harvested several times a year. The cost of production and transportation of banana leaves is relatively low compared to other agricultural products.

3. Banana leaves have a long shelf life and can be preserved easily

Banana leaves can last for several weeks if stored properly in a cool and dry place. They can also be frozen or dried for longer storage. This makes them suitable for export to distant markets that have high demand for banana leaves.

4. Banana leaves have health benefits and medicinal properties

Banana leaves contain polyphenols, flavonoids, and antioxidants that have anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and anti-cancer effects. They can also help heal wounds, ulcers, burns, and skin infections. Some people also use banana leaves to treat fever, headache, cough, asthma, and diabetes.

5. Banana leaves have cultural and religious significance

Banana leaves are considered auspicious and sacred in many cultures and religions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity. They are used for rituals, ceremonies, festivals, weddings, and offerings. They symbolize prosperity, fertility, abundance, and peace.

6. Banana leaves have a growing demand in the global market

The global banana trade has expanded to unprecedented heights in recent years, with an estimated export volume of 21 million tonnes in 2019. The demand for banana leaves is also increasing, especially in countries that have large populations of immigrants or tourists from regions where banana leaves are commonly used. Some of these countries include the United States of America, the European Union, China, the Russian Federation, Japan, United Arab Emirates, Qatarand Saudi Arabia.

7. Banana leaves have a competitive advantage over other products

Banana leaves have many advantages over other products that are used for similar purposes, such as aluminum foil, parchment paper, plastic wrap, or bamboo leaves. They are more natural, eco-friendly, biodegradable, aromatic, flavorful, healthy, versatile, durable, and affordable.

Banana leaf export is a lucrative business that has many benefits for both producers and consumers. It is a sustainable and profitable way to utilize the abundant resources of the banana plant and to meet the diverse needs of the global market.

Banana Leaf Export: A Growing Industry

Banana leaves are widely used in many cuisines around the world, especially in Asia, Africa and Latin America. They are used to wrap food, such as rice, fish, meat and desserts, to enhance the flavor and aroma, as well as to serve as plates or containers. Banana leaves are also used for decoration, religious ceremonies, handicrafts and medicine.

According to Volza’s Global Export data, banana leaf export shipments stood at 9K from the world in 2020, exported by 847 world exporters to 1,480 buyers. The top three exporters of banana leaves are India, Vietnam and Thailand, with 26,155, 2,033 and 1,311 shipments respectively in 2020. The main destinations for banana leaf exports are the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Germany.

Discover more: Packing List Document; Definition, types, and Necessary Information

Challenges and Opportunities of Exporting Banana Leaf

Banana leaf export is a lucrative business that can generate income for smallholder farmers and traders. However, it also faces some challenges, such as high transportation costs, perishability, quality standards, market access and competition.

To overcome these challenges, banana leaf exporters need to adopt good agricultural practices, post-harvest handling techniques, packaging methods and marketing strategies. They also need to diversify their products and markets, and explore value-added opportunities, such as processing banana leaves into paper, fabric or biodegradable plates.

Banana leaf exporters can also benefit from the increasing demand for organic and eco-friendly products in the global market. Consumers are becoming more aware of the environmental and health impacts of their food choices, and are looking for alternatives to plastic and synthetic materials. Banana leaves are natural, biodegradable and renewable resources that can meet these consumer preferences.

Banana Leaf Export: Future Prospects

Banana leaf export is expected to grow in the future, as more people around the world appreciate the culinary and cultural value of banana leaves. Bananas are among the most produced, traded and consumed fruits globally, with an estimated annual production volume of 50 million tonnes. Bananas are also significant in some of the least developed and low-income countries, where they contribute to food security and income generation.

As the global banana industry expands, so does the potential for banana leaf export. Banana leaf exporters can tap into this potential by improving their product quality, quantity and diversity, as well as by establishing strong linkages with buyers and consumers. Banana leaf export can be a sustainable and profitable venture that can benefit both producers and consumers.

References:

http://www.fao.org/docrep/019/i3627e/i3627e.pdf

http://www.fao.org/docrep/019/i3746e/i3746e.pdf

The Human and Environmental Impact of Bananas

https://oec.world/en/profile/hs/bananas

https://web.archive.org/web/20160626140644/http://www.chiquitabananas.com/Worlds-Favorite-Fruit/banana-answers-information-faqs.aspx

http://qz.com/164029/tropical-race-4-global-banana-industry-is-killing-the-worlds-favorite-fruit/

https://www.fao.org/markets-and-trade/commodities/bananas/en/
https://www.fao.org/economic/est/est-commodities/oilcrops/bananas/bananafacts/en/
https://www.volza.com/p/banana-leaf/export/
https://www.volza.com/p/banana-leaves/export/export-from-india/

Essential Topics You Should Be Familiar With:

1. banana leaf export
2. banana export
3. banana export company
4. export tariff
5. timber export
6. wood export
7. wheat export
8. rice export
9. food export
10. sugar export