The Department of Agriculture (DA) is renewing its push to expand Philippine agricultural exports by returning to Asia Fruit Logistica after nearly a decade, bringing local fruit exporters face-to-face with buyers in one of the continent’s major fresh produce markets.
Led by Undersecretary for High Value Export Crops and Agri-Fishery Export Development and Promotion Philip Young, the Philippine delegation joined the September 2 to 4 trade show at AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong.
The DA said the participation is aimed at opening more overseas markets for Philippine high-value export crops, building commercial partnerships, and gathering market intelligence that can help exporters meet international demand and standards.
Asia Fruit Logistica covers the fresh produce supply chain and provides opportunities for exporters to meet buyers, distributors, retailers, and other industry players. The 2026 edition featured more than 760 exhibitors and around 14,000 buyers from 80 countries.
“It is about giving our farmers bigger, more reliable markets, raising the value of their products, and bringing more income to rural communities.”
“Opening more overseas markets is not just about increasing exports. It is about giving our farmers bigger, more reliable markets, raising the value of their products, and bringing more income to rural communities,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said.
“We cannot afford to remain a country with an annual agricultural trade deficit of around $11 billion. That is a huge amount of resources that could otherwise support investments in agriculture, including irrigation. Growing our exports will help farmers earn more while making Philippine agriculture more productive and competitive,” Tiu Laurel said.
House Deputy Speaker Raymond Democrito Mendoza led the ceremonial ribbon-cutting, joined by Young, Philippine Consul General Romulo Victor Israel Jr., and Agricultural Counsellor Marlito Cabuños.
Industry leaders, exporters and representatives of Philippine fruit industry associations also participated.
Mendoza pledged to support and secure more assistance for agri export program.
The Philippine pavilion showcased Cavendish and Cardava bananas, fresh durian, fresh and frozen mangoes, dragon fruit, pomelo, and other high-value export crops.
The Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association and the Philippines Banana Council Inc. presented Cavendish bananas, while the Durian Exporters Association of the Philippines Inc. showcased fresh durian. The National Mango Farmers and Stakeholders Federation Inc. featured fresh and frozen mangoes, while the Philippine Dragon Fruit Growers Association promoted fresh dragon fruit.
Young said the Philippines’ return to the trade show is intended to translate product showcases into concrete business opportunities.
“We are participating not merely to exhibit but to forge durable global partnerships, secure vital market shares, and showcase the unmatched quality of our high-value export crops.”
“Our return to Asia Fruit Logistica under Secretary Tiu-Laurel’s directives underscores our unwavering resolve to position Philippine produce at the forefront of international trade. We are participating not merely to exhibit but to forge durable global partnerships, secure vital market shares, and showcase the unmatched quality of our high-value export crops,” he stressed.
The DA said its participation also seeks to improve export competitiveness by helping producers align with international grading and quality standards, strengthen market intelligence, and deepen public-private cooperation.
As part of efforts to address logistical and post-harvest challenges in export markets, Young met with representatives of logistics companies and shipping services to explore handling and preservation technologies to maintain the freshness of export products during transit. The initial collaboration will focus on dragon fruit, with potential application to other commodities. A virtual training is also being arranged for DA offices and agencies involved in high-value crops, research, and standards.
Participating exhibitors reported strong interest from international buyers, with some orders deferred or declined because demand exceeded available supply capacity, underscoring the need to further strengthen the country’s production and export capacity.
The initiative is part of the government’s broader effort to expand agricultural exports and create more opportunities for Philippine farmers and agribusinesses in international markets. The DA had identified 16 priority export commodities for its broader overseas market development program.
