FESCO in talks with retailers on shipping bananas from Vietnam, India instead of Ecuador

MOSCOW. Feb 9 (Interfax) - FESCO Transportation Group, the flagship of which is the Far Eastern Shipping Company (FESCO) , is holding talks with retail chains on importing bananas from countries other than Ecuador, the company's chairman, Andrei Severilov told reporters.

"We informed the Agriculture Ministry and all of the largest retail chains that we're prepared to replace banana shipments from Ecuador with shipments from other markets, foremost from Vietnam and India, where we have existing marine services. We also have the necessary stocks of refrigerated containers in these countries," Severilov said.

"As for volumes, everything depends on retail chains' needs. Preferably so that contracts be concluded in a take-or-pay format. We're even prepared to acquire additional fleet if needed, but we need firm guarantees on volumes from retail chains," Severilov said.

"I am confident that there won't be a shortage of bananas in Russia. If the situation with Ecuador is not resolved, we certainly have replacement markets," he said.