Banana shortage looming in Australia due to floodwaters in Queensland
Millions of Australians are about to face a banana shortage at supermarkets after North Queensland supply routes were cut off by floodwater.
About 94 per cent of Australia's banana production comes from Queensland, and almost all of the state's bananas are grown in the state's north.
Several North Queensland roads have been closed, including a section of the main transport route along the Bruce Highway between Townsville and Mackay.
A banana shortage is expected to hit shelves in NSW and Victoria supermarkets from next week.
Woolworths anticipates the shortage will affect different regions at different times and is working with growers to help them keep stock moving.
"Due to the floods in Far North Queensland, key delivery routes for bananas have been impacted," a Woolworths spokesman said.
"For a short time, customers may notice less bananas nationally on the shelf. We are working hard to return supply to normal as soon as possible."
A Coles spokesman said the company had managed to get some bananas out and were continuing to work hard to find available routes for more banana deliveries.
"We are working closely with our Queensland banana suppliers to get bananas to the rest of the country as supply routes begin to reopen," he said.
The price of bananas is also expected to soar, similar to what happened in 2011 following Cyclone Yasi when the cost of bananas grew to $12 per kilo after most crops were destroyed in the storm.
