The United States expects an increase in agricultural exports to the Philippines in 2025, driven by the country’s growing middle class and strong expansion in the food service, retail, and food manufacturing sectors. According to the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service, rising disposable incomes are boosting demand for high-quality food products.
US exporters also stand to benefit from the Philippine government’s measures to lower food prices, including Executive Order No. 62, which reduced import tariffs on rice, corn, and meat products until 2028. Ongoing efforts between both governments aim to ease trade restrictions by addressing sanitary, phytosanitary, and licensing issues.
In 2024, US agricultural exports to the Philippines totaled USD 3.5 billion, down slightly from USD 3.6 billion in 2023, due largely to a 20% drop in soybean meal prices—the country’s top export product. However, ethanol exports reached USD 147 million, up 111% year-on-year, while exports of beef, pork, and poultry grew by 58%, 10%, and 8%, respectively, due to increasing demand and local supply disruptions caused by African swine fever.
The USDA warned that new Philippine regulations requiring preshipment inspections and electronic cross-border invoicing could raise administrative burdens for US exporters.
(Source: The Philippine Daily Inquirer)
