Browse Data and Analysis

On August 20, 2024, the Philippines notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of GBT/TBT/N/PHL/336 on the Guidelines on the Adoption of Codex Guidelines for Ready-To-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) (CXC 95-2022) as Technical Regulation.

The Philippines recently notified regulations on follow-up formula or milk supplements and products for young children to the World Trade Organization.

FAS Manila forecasts 2025 beef/carabeef and pork imports at 226,000 and 510,000 metric tons carcass weight equivalent, respectively. Strong economic growth, moderating inflation, and forecast population increases support higher meat imports in 2025.

The Philippines issued Sugar Order No. 5 (SO5) announcing the importation of 240,000 metric tons (MT) of refined sugar, the first sugar import program for marketing year (MY) 2024-2025 which starts in September 2024 and ends in August 2025.

The Philippines is set to resume raw sugar exports to the United States under its sugar quota in August 2024. The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) issued Sugar Order (SO) No. 3 on July 26, approving the export of 25,300 metric tons raw value (MTRV) of raw sugar in fulfillment of the United States tariff rate quota (TRQ) allocation for fiscal year 2024.

The Philippines is a regional biotechnology leader and the first country in the world to approve Golden Rice for commercial propagation. The Bt Eggplant biosafety permit was signed on October 17, 2022, allowing commercial propagation. Planting of Golden Rice has started since its approval in 2021, while Bt corn acceptance has grown with more than 600,000 hectares planted in 2021.

FY2022 agricultural exports reach record levels.

On October 18, 2022, The Government of the Philippines marked Bt eggplant as its third genetically engineered crop approved for commercial propagation, following Bt corn and Golden Rice.

Prospects for U.S. brewing ingredients remain strong amidst a robust local beer manufacturing industry. Beer is the most widely consumed alcoholic beverage in the Philippines, accounting for 72 percent of total alcohol consumption or 2.1 billion liters annually. Export prospects in the region are especially strong because of the country’s membership in various free trade agreements and its strategic location.