Chiquita Reports Banana Volume

NEW YORK - Sep 12/05 - SNS -- Chiquita Brands International, Inc. released data on banana prices and volume for July and August.

In the European Union, Norway, Iceland and Switzerland, Chiquita's average banana prices rose 15% on a U.S. dollar basis (16% on a local currency basis) in the first two months of the 2005 third quarter, compared to the same period a year ago.

The company attributed the higher average European prices to expanded sales of premium-label volumes in Eastern Europe, competition for import licenses, reduced supply of bananas from protected sources and the impact of higher delivered costs for fuel and shipping.

The volume of bananas the company sold in its core European markets fell 9% in the first two months of the quarter, compared to the same period a year ago, as the company sold less second-label fruit during this period of tight license availability.

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