The United States envisions becoming the second-largest supplier of processed vegetables to the Philippines, according to a report from the United States Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). In 2022, the Philippines exported 512,000 metric tons of processed vegetables valued at approximately $460 million, representing a 35% increase from the previous year.
China dominated as the primary source of imported processed vegetables in 2022, holding a 28% market share, followed by ASEAN at 22%. The United States secured the third position with a 21% market share. With a notable 22% increase in sales projected through August 2023, the USDA anticipates the US surpassing ASEAN and becoming the Philippines' second-largest supplier of processed vegetables.
Key US exports to the Philippines in 2022 included potato chips, capturing a 58% market share, and frozen potatoes, with a 35% share.
The report sheds light on the Philippines' annual per capita vegetable consumption, estimated at 45 kilograms, significantly below the Food and Agriculture Organization's recommended intake of 146 to 182 kg per capita. The Philippine government aims to incrementally increase per capita vegetable consumption by 1% annually. The country commercially cultivates over 50 different vegetables, including sweet potatoes, onions, eggplant, tomatoes, and squash.
The USDA attributes the Philippines' lower vegetable production levels to "inadequate post-harvest facilities and the diminishing availability of farmland." This underscores the potential for the United States to play a crucial role in meeting the rising demand for processed vegetables in the Philippines.
Source: www.manilatimes.net