- Davao del Norte resumed international cacao exports after over a decade, shipping six metric tons of dried fermented cacao beans from Panabo Port to New Zealand on June 30, 2026
- The export was led by the Kapalong Cooperative, whose produce was purchased by New Zealand-based cacao trader Rautini Ltd
- The initiative was supported by the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Agriculture, the provincial government, and private sector partners
The province of Davao del Norte has resumed international cacao exports after more than a decade, shipping six metric tons of premium dried fermented cacao beans from Panabo Port to New Zealand on June 30, 2026.
The shipment was produced by Kapalong Cooperative, whose dried fermented beans drew the interest of Rautini Ltd., a New Zealand-based premium cacao bean trader that will take delivery of the consignmentte.
The export was supported by the DTI-Davao del Norte, Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Field Office XI, the provincial government, and private sector partners, who collectively provided market linkages, technical assistance, and quality standards support to prepare the cooperative for international trade.
This shipment marks Davao del Norte’s first international cacao export in more than ten years, reestablishing the province and the Kapalong Cooperative as active players in the global premium cacao market that supplies the fine chocolate industry.
“By capturing the taste of the international premium market, we aren’t just exporting beans — we are uplifting the livelihoods of our local farmers and solidifying Davao Del Norte’s status as a key player in the global cacao value chain,” DTI-Davao del Norte said in a social media post.
The purchase was initiated during the 2025 National Cacao Congress held in Davao City in July last year, according to the DA Regional Office.
READ: DA, DTI collaborate to boost agri exports
The Davao Region – composed of the provinces of Davao del Norte, del Sur, de Oro, Oriental, Occidental, and the independent City of Davao – is the declared Cacao Capital of the Philippines.
