Recognizing a high growth potential for exports to the Philippines, United States representatives, agribusinesses, and farm organizations will travel to the country this month. Daniel Whitley, Foreign Agricultural Service Administrator, and traveling participants, will attend a USDA-sponsored trade mission where they will engage with potential buyers, receive in-depth market briefs, and visit sites.
Just last year, the U.S. experienced a record number of agricultural exports to the country. FAS Administrator Whitley said in a USDA report, “The Philippines is an excellent market for U.S. farm and food products, and we look forward to introducing a diverse group of companies and organizations to new export opportunities there. U.S. brands sell very well in the Philippines, where consumers regard our products as safe, reliable, and of good quality. The United States has enjoyed a long and prosperous trading relationship with the Philippines, and this mission is an ideal opportunity to expand our exports further there.”
Why is the Philippines and important trade partner?
The Philippines is currently the eighth most significant market for agricultural exports from the United States. Consequently, the U.S. is also responsible for 21 percent of the import market share to the Philippines. Exports from the United States to the Philippines accounted for 3.5 billion in 2021. The top three commodities exported to the Philippines in 2021 included soybean meal, accounting for $856 million; wheat, accounting for $721 million; and dairy products, accounting for $322 million. A complete list of exported commodities is available here.
The Philippines is the 12th most populated country in the world, with nearly 115 million people living in the country. Boasting a rising household income, the Philippines has one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. They are expected to become an upper-middle-income economy, which the World Bank defines as having a gross national income per capita between $4,096 and $12,695.
Who will attend?
Representatives attending include Minnesota DOA Commissioner Thom Petersen, Nebraska DOA Director Steve Wellman, South Dakota DOA, and Natural Resources Secretary Hunter Roberts, and Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matthew Lohr. Officials will also travel from California, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, North Dakota, and Wisconsin DOAs. Attendees from other organizations will include:
- Blue River Trading Company, LLC, West Allis, WI
- California Blueberry Commission, Clovis, CA
- California Milk Advisory Board, Tracy, CA
- East-West International Group, Inc., Moreland Hills, OH
- Flying Horse Services, Inc., Arcadia, CA
- Food Export Association of the Midwest USA, Chicago, IL
- Food Export USA – Northeast, Philadelphia, PA
- Global Processing, Kanawha, IA
- Globex International, Atlanta, GA
- Groceries USA, New York, NY
- High Desert Milk, Inc., Burley, ID
- Intervision Foods, Atlanta, GA
- Kizable LLC, Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Lamex Foods, Bloomington, MN
- Lee Spirits, Monument, CO
- MEM Fairway, Inc., Irvine, CA
- Minnesota Corn Research & Promotion Council, Burnsville, MN
- Minnesota Soybean Growers Association, Mankato, MN
- Minnesota Wheat Research & Promotion Council, Red Lake Falls, MN
- Mirasco, Atlanta, GA
- National Pork Board, Des Moines, IA
- Redwood International, Irvine, CA
- Seneca Foods Corporation, Lake Elmo, MN
- Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance, Mankato, MN
- Tedford/Tellico, Inc., Knoxville, TN
- U.S. Dairy Export Council, Arlington, VA
- U.S. Grains Council, Washington, D.C.
- U.S. Livestock Genetics Export, Inc., Mount Horeb, WI
- U.S. Soybean Export Council, Chesterfield, MO
