PH aims to export mangoes, pineapples to America
The government is working to export Philippine mangoes and pineapples to the United States as it seeks to expand agricultural trade.
Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) director Gerald Glenn Panganiban tells the Inquirer that the government is collaborating with American counterparts to ensure that pineapple exports meet quality standards.
“Pineapple exports to the US were previously allowed. We only need to agree to comply with updated phytosanitary measures they suggested,” adds Panganiban.
Such measures include preclearance inspection and onsite irradiation treatment.
Phytosanitary systems are designed to prevent the spread of plant pests or diseases, while irradiation involves exposing produce to controlled radiation to eliminate bacteria and other microorganisms.
BPI met with the officials from the US Department of Agriculture-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) to enhance collaboration on plant health and market access.
One of the items on the agenda was facilitating safe and efficient trade between both countries, especially for locally produced mangoes and pineapples.
“Throughout the day, both countries demonstrated their shared commitment to strengthening regulatory cooperation, promoting transparency and supporting the growth of agricultural trade while ensuring compliance with international phytosanitary standards,” the BPI says in a statement.
Both parties also conducted a dedicated stakeholders’ consultation with representatives from the mango and pineapple industries.
“This session provided a valuable platform for exporters and industry players to directly engage with USDA-APHIS and BPI officials—raising key concerns, clarifying technical requirements and discussing practical pathways to facilitate the export of Philippine mangoes and pineapples to the US market,” it adds.
Philippine farm shipments to the United States amounted to $121.63 million in January, down 2.7 percent from $125.02 million in the same period a year ago, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority show.
On the other hand, farm imports from America declined by 17.5 percent to $227.72.
Meanwhile, total US farm exports to the Philippines were valued at $3.4 billion for the whole of 2025, slightly lower than $3.48 billion a year ago, based on figures from the USDA.
