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The Philippines sent its first commercial shipment of Hass avocados to Japan on November 15 after gaining approval to export to the Asian market
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The first shipment of 2,240 boxes with a net volume of 12,084 kilograms valued at $40,320 is expected to arrive at Tokyo Port on November 21
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A second batch of the same volume is planned for shipment between November 18 to 24, 2024
The Philippines sent its first commercial shipment of Hass avocados to Japan on November 15 after getting approval to export to the Asian market.
The first shipment of 2,240 boxes with a net volume of 12,084 kilograms valued at $40,320 is expected to arrive at Tokyo Port on November 21, according to the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI).
A second batch with the same volume is eyed for shipment between November 18 and 24.
Next year, the target is to ship 88,000 boxes or about 484,000 kilos (484 metric tons) worth $1.584 million to Japan.
BPI said the achievement was made possible through its collaboration with the Office of Agricultural Affairs (OAA) in Tokyo, and agricultural food producer DOLE Philippines Inc.
BPI director Glenn Panganiban said the inclusion of Hass avocados in Philippine export portfolio to Japan, which already includes bananas and pineapples, is the culmination of over a decade of effort, with initial access requests dating back to 2011.
“Securing access to Japan’s highly competitive market for Hass avocados is a significant step forward in our trade relations with Japan,” he said.
The Philippines, through BPI-National Plant Quarantine Services Division, in August 2011 formally expressed its intent to export fresh Hass avocados to Japan in response to a request from Dole Philippines.
Following years of technical discussions and extensive information exchanges, a significant breakthrough was achieved on November 8, 2024, when Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF) and BPI officially lifted the ban on importing Hass avocados from the Philippines.
A key component of the preparation was the on-site verification conducted by a MAFF inspector from November 11-14, 2024. The audit focused on Hass avocado production sites and packing house in South Cotabato to ensure compliance with the approved work plan.
The Department of Agriculture, in a separate statement, said the development comes at a time when the Philippines’ agricultural exports to Japan are experiencing an upward trend.
In 2023, the Philippines exported $1.1 billion worth of agri-fisheries products to Japan, generating a trade surplus of $990 million. The addition of Hass avocados further solidifies the Philippines’ position as a key supplier of high-quality fruits to Japan, a market renowned for its discerning consumers.
The Hass variety, favored for its smaller size and pebbly skin that turns purplish-black when ripe, is particularly well-suited to Japanese preferences.
Japan is a major importer of Hass avocados, with imports valued at $160 million (61,000 metric tons) in 2023.
Key suppliers include Mexico, Peru, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.
“We are proud to announce that the Philippines is the first country in Asia to export Hass avocados to Japan,” said Tokyo-based agriculture attaché Aleli Maghirang.
“This provides local producers with an excellent opportunity to capitalize on Japan’s growing demand for fresh fruits,” Maghirang added.
DA said gaining entry into Japan’s discerning market is anticipated to pave the way for Philippine-grown Hass avocados to access other international markets, and underscores the potential for further expansion of Philippine agricultural product exports.
Last year, the Philippines also sent its first shipment of Hass avocados to South Korea.
The global market for Hass avocados is projected to reach $18 billion by next year.
