PH exports Hass avocados to Japan

Metro Manila, Philippines — The Philippines has exported its first shipment of Hass avocado supply from Mindanao to the Japan food market, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.

In a statement on Sunday, Nov. 17, the DA quoted Tokyo-based Agriculture Attaché Aleli Maghirang that “the Philippines is the first country in Asia to export Hass avocados to Japan.”

“This provides local producers with an excellent opportunity to capitalize on Japan's growing demand for fresh fruits,” Maghirang was quoted as saying.

The Hass avocado is a variety of the fruit with dark green, bumpy skin. It turns purplish-black when ripe.

The DA said the Philippines exported $1.1 billion (around P64 billion) worth of agri-fisheries products to Japan in 2023, generating a trade surplus of $990 million (around P58 billion).

“This is a testament to the Philippines’ dedication to expanding its agricultural exports and the high quality of our farm produce,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said. “We are optimistic that this access granted by Japan will lead to opportunities in other international markets for locally-grown Hass avocados.”

The agency said Japan is a major importer of Hass avocados, supplying from Mexico, Peru, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. In 2023, the DA said Japan’s imports of Hass avocados reached 61,000 metric tons valued at $160 million (around P9 billion).

“The addition of Hass avocados further solidifies the Philippines' position as a key supplier of high-quality fruits to Japan, a market renowned for its discerning consumers,” the DA said.

According to the DA, the global market for Hass avocados is projected to reach $18 billion (around P1.06 trillion) by 2025.