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Philippines regains rank as the world’s second-largest banana exporter, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization
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Export rebound driven by recovery from weather- and disease-related crop damage
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Department of Agriculture investments in Cagayan Valley boosted banana output, particularly for saba-based products
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2025 High Value Crops Development Program supported farm expansion and soil rehabilitation
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The DA said Fusarium wilt continues to pose a significant risk, impacting approximately 15,500 hectares in the Davao Region
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DA eyes wider export push across other high-value crops
The Philippines has regained its position as the world’s second-largest banana exporter, marking a rebound attributed to improved production and targeted government support, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The FAO, in its 2025 Banana Market Review Preliminary Results, said the country’s return to the No. 2 ranking was largely driven by a surge in exportable supply following recovery from weather- and disease-related damage that weighed on production in recent years.
Industry sources cited in the FAO report pointed to investments in banana production in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley), supported by the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) provision of organic fertilizer and other farm inputs.
The Philippine Cardaba banana variety, commonly known as saba, has recently been driving exports through products such as banana chips, steamed saba, and banana catsup.
These investments were implemented under the DA’s 2025 High Value Crops Development Program, which included the distribution of 106,000 banana planting materials for farm expansion and rejuvenation. The program also rolled out 120,000 units of organic fertilizer to restore soil health and deployed more than 215,000 biological control agents, including Trichoderma, to improve plant resilience and reduce postharvest losses.
The recovery comes despite the continued threat of Fusarium wilt tropical race 4, also known as Panama disease, which remains the banana industry’s most urgent challenge.
The disease has affected about 15,500 hectares in Region 11 (Davao), putting pressure on cavendish plantations that underpin Philippine banana exports. Officials said continued containment and mitigation efforts will be critical to sustaining recent gains.
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Beyond bananas and mangoes, the DA is enhancing its export strategy by identifying 10 additional high-value crops for focused promotion, namely: asparagus, avocado, cacao, calamansi, coffee, dragon fruit, durian, okra, pomelo, and rambutan.
Fruits and peels are currently the country’s second-largest agricultural export, with shipments in November alone rising 33% year-on-year to $244.4 million.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the FAO findings validate the government’s approach.
“Many thought the banana industry was in decline. This is proof of concept that when interventions are done right, we can reverse the trend,” he said in a press release, adding that the DA now plans to scale similar interventions across other high-value crops.
The DA said the banana sector’s rebound reflects a broader policy shift from volume-driven output to value-oriented, export-ready agriculture, noting that sustained investments and effective disease management could strengthen the Philippines’ position as a diversified and resilient agricultural exporter.
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