The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
The Philippines posted its highest-ever agricultural export value in April, reaching $1.029 billion as government efforts to expand global market access continued to gain traction, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
The figure marks a 33.2 percent jump from the $772.68 million recorded in April 2025, driven largely by stronger overseas demand for key commodity groups such as animal and vegetable fats and oils, processed edible fats, and related products.
The PSA said the growth underscores the continued strength of Philippine farm exports even amid global market volatility.
DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa attributed the surge to the government’s sustained push to open new international markets for local agricultural goods.
“Sunud-sunod ‘yung mga pagbubukas ng mga bagong markets for our tropical fruits and high-value crops,” de Mesa said, noting closer coordination with partner agencies and the private sector.
He said the DA is actively promoting a wide range of export-ready products, including coconut, mango, pineapple, avocado, banana, pomelo, dragon fruit, rambutan, ube, coffee, and cacao, among others.
De Mesa added that the government is working to narrow the country’s agricultural trade deficit by leveraging the Philippines’ strong comparative advantage in tropical produce.
“Ang target natin is to narrow down the trade deficit, iyong gap ng imported items and export,” he said.
To support this goal, the DA has established the High Value Export Crop, Agri-Fishery Export Development and Promotion Office—the first dedicated export promotion unit under the Marcos administration—headed by Agriculture Undersecretary Philip Young.
“Nagkaroon ng dedicated office na ang opisina na iyon ay export promotion. Ang trabaho niya talaga ay to promote at magkaroon talaga ng comprehensive program,” de Mesa said.
PSA data showed that the agricultural trade deficit narrowed by 34.7 percent in April, falling to $600.09 million from $919.64 million in the same period last year.
Recent milestones also highlight the country’s expanding global footprint, including the first commercial shipment of 18 metric tons of pineapples from South Cotabato to Khor Fakkan Port in the United Arab Emirates, as well as the export of one metric ton of Zambales mangoes to Toronto, Canada earlier this month.