The Philippines Department of Agriculture has announced the country has successfully expanded its access to Japan with the approval to export Hass avocados, a significant milestone in the country’s agricultural export growth.
“This is a testament to the Philippines’ dedication to expanding its agricultural exports and the high quality of our farm produce,” said agriculture secretary Francisco P Tiu Laurel Jr. “We are optimistic that this access granted by Japan will lead to opportunities in other international markets for locally grown Hass avocados.”
Tiu Laurel also commended the collaborative efforts of the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), the Office of the Agriculture Attaché in Tokyo, and Dole Stanfilco in achieving this international trade milestone.
BPI director Glenn Panganiban said the addition of Hass avocados to the Philippine export portfolio for Japan, which already includes bananas and pineapples, is the culmination of over a decade of effort, with initial access requests dating back to 2011.
“Securing access to Japan’s highly competitive market for Hass avocados is a significant step forward in our trade relations with Japan,” he said.
This development comes at a time when the Philippines’ agricultural exports to Japan are experiencing an upward trend. In 2023, the Philippines exported US$1.1bn worth of agri-fisheries products to Japan, generating a trade surplus of US$990mn. The addition of Hass avocados further solidifies the Philippines’ position as a key supplier to Japan, a market renowned for its discerning consumers.
Japan is a major importer of Hass avocados, with imports valued at US$160mn (61,000 tonnes) in 2023. Key suppliers include Mexico, Peru, Australia, New Zealand, and the US.
“We are proud to announce that the Philippines is the first country in Asia to export Hass avocados to Japan,” said Tokyo-based agriculture attaché Aleli Maghirang. “This provides local producers with an excellent opportunity to capitalise on Japan’s growing demand for fresh fruits.”
Gaining entry into the Japanese market is anticipated to pave the way for Philippine-grown Hass avocados to access other international markets.
