PH Ships First Hass Avocado Export to Japan

The Philippines has achieved a milestone in agricultural trade with its first shipment of Hass avocados to Japan, the Department of Agriculture (DA) announced Sunday.

A First in Asia

The initial shipment, sourced from Mindanao, makes the Philippines the first Asian country to export Hass avocados to Japan.

“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 Tiu Laurel Jr.

Aleli Maghirang, the Philippines’ agriculture attaché in Tokyo, noted the significance of this step:
“This provides local producers with an excellent opportunity to capitalize on Japan’s growing demand for fresh fruits.”

The Hass Advantage

• Characteristics: The Hass avocado is a smaller variety with pebbly skin that turns purplish-black when ripe.
• Global Demand: Japan imported $160 million worth of Hass avocados, or 61,000 metric tons, in 2023. Major suppliers include Mexico, Peru, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.

Strengthening Trade Relations

Director Glenn Panganiban of the DA’s Bureau of Plant Industry called the access to Japan’s competitive market a significant achievement:
“Securing access to Japan’s market for Hass avocados is a significant step forward in our trade relations with Japan.”

The move aligns with the Philippines’ upward trend in agricultural exports to Japan, which reached $1.1 billion in 2023, yielding a $990 million trade surplus.

Future Opportunities

Agriculture Secretary Laurel expressed optimism that this development could open doors to other international markets:
“We are optimistic that this access granted by Japan will lead to opportunities in other international markets for locally-grown Hass avocados.”

The global market for Hass avocados is projected to grow to $8 billion by 2025, making this export a promising venture for Filipino producers.