Mangoes to Australia and Avocadoes to Korea

The Philippines exported its second batch of mangoes weighing 1,500 kilograms to Australia as the Asian country aims to boost revenues from high-value crops.

The Department of Agriculture on Friday said the mangoes were again shipped to Sydney and Perth by Hi-Las Marketing Corporation last 6 September, a decade after the Philippines’ last export of the fruit to the foreign country pre-pandemic.

“The endeavor opens new horizons for the country’s agricultural produce and strengthens the bonds of international trade,” DA-Bureau of Plant Industry Director Gerald Glenn Panganiban said.

“With this commencement of the export to Australia, we hope that we are able to ship more of our good quality products across the globe as we aim to re-enter the global market,” Hi-Las President and CEO Roberto Angelo Amores II said.

According to a 2021 report by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization, mango was the third most exported tropical fruit after pineapple and avocado.

The world’s top producers, China and India produce over 15 million metric tons annually, while the Philippines see just over 800,000 metric tons, data from the DA showed.

The top importers, on the other hand, are the US, Netherlands, Germany and the United Kingdom.

“It was long ago in 2013 when we last exported mangoes to Australia, so this is a big step towards our mango industry development considering that we greatly need to promote such kinds of products overseas,” Panganiban said.

In a related development, the Korean government has approved the importation of Philippine avocadoes to Korea.

According to Kyung Bong Koh, director of the export management division of Korea's Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA), the Philippines through the BPI has met the phytosanitary requirements to allow for the importation of avocadoes.

"I look forward to the smooth importation with your cooperation, and I hope the BPI manages to ensure phytosanitary safety on the Philippine avocado fruits," added the director.

Avocado production in Korea is non-existent and imported avocadoes flood their domestic market for most of the year. In 2021, Korea imported over 17,000 tons of avocado valued at $50 million USD, an increase of 30% from the previous year.

Sources: the Daily Tribune, BPI and freshelaexporters website