North Queensland is responsible for over 90% of Australia’s banana yield, primarily supplying southern states like New South Wales and Victoria via the Bruce Highway. Recent monsoonal rains have led to significant closures of this crucial transport route, adversely affecting banana availability in other regions.
Supermarket chains Coles and Woolworths are actively managing the supply shortfall, which will vary across different areas. A spokesperson from Woolworths indicated that the floods have hindered delivery routes, resulting in a temporary decrease in banana stock nationwide. Coles is also collaborating with Queensland suppliers to resume banana shipments as soon as possible.
Increased demand coupled with supply shortages may lead to higher banana prices, reminiscent of the post-Cyclone Yasi spike in 2011 when prices reached $14 per kilo. Meanwhile, the ongoing disruptions have forced banana trucks to take longer inland routes, which are also threatened by potential further rainfall, as warned by the Bureau of Meteorology. Reports suggest some farmers have even had to destroy crops impacted by the floods, exacerbating the situation. As residents brace for additional heavy rain, the banana supply crisis is expected to intensify.