ABSTRACT
The key structural characteristic of the world banana export industry is the dominance of three vertically integrated multinational enterprises (MNEs). Through their involvement in production, distribution and marketing, these three firms shared around 63 per cent of world exports in 1980 and are responsible for the greater part of banana imports in the major industrialized markets (FAO, 1982). Historically, banana production has been distinguished by extensive plantation operations with significant scale economies. Vertical corporate linkages extend from cultivation through shipping and encompass ripening and wholesaling activities.
