The United States is emerging as the second largest supplier of processed vegetables in the Philippines this year.
A report by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) said US processed vegetables exports to the Philippines have increased by 22 percent from January to August this year.
The USDA said last year, the Philippines imported a total of 512,000 metric tons (MT) of processed vegetables worth $460 million, 20 percent of which came from the US, making it the third largest supplier for the year.
The report released by the USDA November 29, also said last year, the Philippines’ top supplier of processed vegetables was China with a 28 percent market share followed by Asean, with a 22 percent contribution.
The USDA report also said last year, the top 10 processed vegetables purchased by the Philippines were frozen potatoes (161,000 MT); cassava starch (159,000 MT); potato chips (62,000 MT); prepared tomatoes (43,000 MT); potato starch (23,000 MT); prepared sweet corn (22,000 MT); prepared mushrooms (21,000 MT); potato flour (17,000 MT); prepared mixed vegetables (14,000 MT); and mixed vegetables powder or granules (7,000 MT).
The report said the US noted the potential for higher processed vegetable exports to the Philippines as all three food sectors in the country, namely food service, food retail and food processing show growth .
The USDA added vegetable production in the Philippines over the past five years has grown at a compound annual growth rate of only 1.5 percent.
The Philippine Statistics Authority attributed the slow growth to inadequate post-harvest facilities and the diminishing availability of farmland apart from the constant threat of typhoons.
The report added the Philippines’ annual per capita consumption of vegetables is estimated to be at 45 kilograms which is less than a third of the Food and Agriculture Organization’s recommended intake.
The government aims to improve per capita vegetable consumption by one percent each year. The country commercially cultivates over 50 different vegetables, with sweet potatoes, onions, eggplant, tomatoes and squash among top vegetable crops.
