RP exports $10-million food products to Japan

MANILA, Philippines - Food exports to Japan continued to accelerate despite the global financial crisis as Filipino firms were able to sell $10 million worth of products from two promotion activities last month.

The Bureau of Export Trade Promotion (BETP) reported that Philippine exporters earned $4.3 million in sales from the Outbound Business Mission (OBM) and $5.5 million from participation in the FOODEX Trade Fair.

The export promotion activities were conducted in line with the Department of Trade and Industry’s efforts to implement programs that would take advantage of the opportunities for Philippine businesses under the Japan- Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA).

The Outbound Business Matching (OBM) is part of a series of promotional efforts lined-up by BETP of the DTI. Eighteen food companies participated in the FOODEX, 14 of which participated in the OBM.

The Philippine food exporters promoted a wide array of products that included ready to eat and ready to cook food such as jams, jellies, nata de coco, frozen/pickled mango and mango halves, dried fruits such as banana chips, dried mangoes, pineapples and papayas, tropical fruit juices, purees and nectars, biscuits and cookies, sauces and mixes, soft drinks, ice cream and noodles; fresh fruits such as bananas and pineapples, and marine products such as canned and processed tuna.

Japan emerged as the country’s third biggest market with 15.67 percent of aggregate shipments.  Exports to Japan amounted to $7.68 billion in 2008, up by 5.19 percent compared to the same period in 2007.