Food Exports Expected To Recover
February 18, 2012
Manila Bulletin
MANILA, Philippines — Although the country’s agriculture exports lagged behind other ASEAN countries, industry leaders believe there is great potential not just to catch up with neighbors but to be the leading food exporter of some agro-food products where the Philippines has the competitive advantage.
Roberto C. Amores, president of Philippine Food Exporters (Philfoodex), said at the launch of the 11th Philippine Food Expo that the government just have to step up its productivity enhancement programs in order to reverse the problem of declining agricultural production, which is making the supply of raw materials scarce and costly.
Other cost issues are the high prices of fuel, labor rates and commodity prices will increase production costs.
“Thus, despite the higher export value, producers and processors will gain less income because of rising cost of materials and other production inputs,” Amores said.
Amores, who is also the Chairman of the Philippine Okra Producers and Exporters Association (POPEA) also mentioned that there is a need to speed up the market and trade protocols to expand access to markets of our agro-food products like China and Korea.
The case of okra, he said, the Philippines had been exporting fresh okra to Japan with Thailand as its main competitor. But the demand of okra in Japan is seasonal and limited.
To increase export sales performance, there is need to explore other markets like Korea (for fresh okra) and the USA and Europe (for frozen okra) through an expanded support on market research and promotions.
Recently, POPEA discovered that okra can access the Korean market. The opportunity to enter the Korean market would be attained once the protocols are established by the Bureau of Plant Industry Quarantine Service in coordination with Korean Plant Quarantine.
At present, the POPEA has started doing their own market research and promotions of fresh okra through some Korean buyers. The Korean Plan Quarantine officials have visited one of the packing house and production area of an exporter in Tarlac last November, 2011.
To further expand demand of fresh okra especially that of the Japanese variety in the domestic market, new food preparations with okra as the main material will be conceived by a culinary group. Food sampling of okra based on these innovative food preparations will be one of the special events to be featured in the 11th Philippine Food Expo.
“Our Philippine okra shall be positioned as a healthy and nutritious vegetable food of choice. And if the POPEA program promoting our okra in the local market gets on stream, we expect that the increase demand will redound to benefit our small producers in terms of the incremental income which can be coming from the increased recovery of export grade rejects and increased volume,” said Amores.
Philfoodex is inviting everyone to visit the 11th Philippine Food Expo which is scheduled on February 23 to 26, 2012 at the World Trade Center, Pasay City, Metro Manila.
With the theme, “From Farm to Fork: The Best Philippine Food Products to the World ” the annual premier trade event seeks to highlight the importance of strengthening the food supply chain amid the expanding demand of global consumers.
The theme also underscores the need to build stronger ties with all players in the Philippine food sector to enhance its competitiveness in the global market and expand markets for existing and new food products.
With expanded participation of the fresh and processed food producers and exporters including allied industries, this year’s Philippine Food Expo is expected to draw many visitors and serious trade buyers which are expected to surpass last year’s recorded level of more than 27,000 visitor’s.
Philippines food export sales as of November 2011 reached $2,356.33 million or 24.06% higher than last year’s $1,899 million. By product groups, processed food/beverages contributed $ 941.80 million, fruits and vegetables, $907.52 million and marine products accounted for $ 507.01 million.
Data further showed that by products, cavendish bananas showed a strong sales performance of $440.87 million from the January to November, 2011 period. This was followed by tuna exports valued at $261.98 million and canned pineapple which generated sales of $174.47 million
Roberto C. Amores, president of Philippine Food Exporters (Philfoodex), said at the launch of the 11th Philippine Food Expo that the government just have to step up its productivity enhancement programs in order to reverse the problem of declining agricultural production, which is making the supply of raw materials scarce and costly.
Other cost issues are the high prices of fuel, labor rates and commodity prices will increase production costs.
“Thus, despite the higher export value, producers and processors will gain less income because of rising cost of materials and other production inputs,” Amores said.
Amores, who is also the Chairman of the Philippine Okra Producers and Exporters Association (POPEA) also mentioned that there is a need to speed up the market and trade protocols to expand access to markets of our agro-food products like China and Korea.
The case of okra, he said, the Philippines had been exporting fresh okra to Japan with Thailand as its main competitor. But the demand of okra in Japan is seasonal and limited.
To increase export sales performance, there is need to explore other markets like Korea (for fresh okra) and the USA and Europe (for frozen okra) through an expanded support on market research and promotions.
Recently, POPEA discovered that okra can access the Korean market. The opportunity to enter the Korean market would be attained once the protocols are established by the Bureau of Plant Industry Quarantine Service in coordination with Korean Plant Quarantine.
At present, the POPEA has started doing their own market research and promotions of fresh okra through some Korean buyers. The Korean Plan Quarantine officials have visited one of the packing house and production area of an exporter in Tarlac last November, 2011.
To further expand demand of fresh okra especially that of the Japanese variety in the domestic market, new food preparations with okra as the main material will be conceived by a culinary group. Food sampling of okra based on these innovative food preparations will be one of the special events to be featured in the 11th Philippine Food Expo.
“Our Philippine okra shall be positioned as a healthy and nutritious vegetable food of choice. And if the POPEA program promoting our okra in the local market gets on stream, we expect that the increase demand will redound to benefit our small producers in terms of the incremental income which can be coming from the increased recovery of export grade rejects and increased volume,” said Amores.
Philfoodex is inviting everyone to visit the 11th Philippine Food Expo which is scheduled on February 23 to 26, 2012 at the World Trade Center, Pasay City, Metro Manila.
With the theme, “From Farm to Fork: The Best Philippine Food Products to the World ” the annual premier trade event seeks to highlight the importance of strengthening the food supply chain amid the expanding demand of global consumers.
The theme also underscores the need to build stronger ties with all players in the Philippine food sector to enhance its competitiveness in the global market and expand markets for existing and new food products.
With expanded participation of the fresh and processed food producers and exporters including allied industries, this year’s Philippine Food Expo is expected to draw many visitors and serious trade buyers which are expected to surpass last year’s recorded level of more than 27,000 visitor’s.
Philippines food export sales as of November 2011 reached $2,356.33 million or 24.06% higher than last year’s $1,899 million. By product groups, processed food/beverages contributed $ 941.80 million, fruits and vegetables, $907.52 million and marine products accounted for $ 507.01 million.
Data further showed that by products, cavendish bananas showed a strong sales performance of $440.87 million from the January to November, 2011 period. This was followed by tuna exports valued at $261.98 million and canned pineapple which generated sales of $174.47 million
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