Philippines targets $36 million export sales in world’s biggest food exhibit

MANILA, Philippines — The Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), the export promotion arm of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), is set to leverage on the Philippines’ zero tariff privileges on selected products in Europe as it returns to showcase the country’s finest food exports at the Salon International de I’Alimentation or SIAL 2018 in Paris, France, on Oct. 21-25, 2018.

Held at the Paris Nord Villepinte, SIAL Paris is regarded as one of the biggest and prominent food trade shows in the world. It is considered as a crossroad of world agri business supply and demand and a springboard for food companies.

In 2016, the biennial food trade event housed 7,020 exhibitors from 109 countries and welcomed 155,766 visitors from 194 countries. 

 “The Philippines’ return to SIAL Paris bolsters DTI’s aggressive campaign to elevate export opportunities for local firms to penetrate countries in the European Union (EU),” said newly appointed CITEM executive director Paulina Suaco-Juan.

Under the Food Philippines pavilion, CITEM is set to feature the country’s export-competitive products amid the Philippines’ growing relations with European countries and trade privileges under the EU’s Generalized System of Preferences Plus or GSP+ scheme.

“As the only Southeast Asian country under EU’s preferential scheme, we look to leverage on the zero-tariff privileges on selected products,” she said. “These include coconut and marine products, processed fruits and other local food products.”

Aside from eligible products under EU-GSP+ scheme, the national pavilion will also showcase various food selections including tuna, coco and muscovado sugar, pili nuts, confectionaries, instant noodles, biscuits, crackers, sandwiches, dried fruits and juices, liquor and crafted spirits, heritage rice, turmeric products, banana chips, single-origin dark chocolate, and many more.

“We have carefully selected the product segments based on the bestsellers of the country’s previous participation in SIAL from 2012-2016 and market research to cater to the meticulous taste of Europeans,” Juan said.

In 2016, 20 Philippine companies netted $36.11 million export sales in SIAL Paris. For 2018, DTI-CITEM is targeting $36.15 million.

The delegation will also participate in business-matching sessions during the event in partnership with The Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC)-Paris.

The EU is ranked as the Philippines’ fourth largest trading partner, third largest import source, and fourth largest export market.

In 2016, the Philippines’ external trade in goods with the EU states amounted to $13.713 billion or 9.7 percent share of the country’s total trade based on data of the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Exports to the EU reached $6.970 billion or 12.1 percent of the total export receipts while imports were valued at $6.743 billion or eight percent share of total import, resulting in a balance of trade in goods surplus of $227.74 million.

Among the EU-member countries, Germany is the Philippines’ top trading partner with a total trade of $4.357 billion or 31.8 percent of EU’s total trade. Revenue from export to Germany amounted to $2.329 billion while payments for imports were worth $2.028 billion or a trade surplus of $301.32 million

Within the EU, 90 percent of EU-Philippine trade is concentrated among eight EU member-states—Germany, France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Belgium and Denmark.

The Philippines currently enjoys a special trade arrangement and incentives with European countries as one of the 30 countries listed under EU’s GSP.

Under the EU GSP, developing countries can export goods with reduced tariffs entering the EU to stimulate economic growth and job creation in their economies. The Philippines avails itself of the zero preferential duties on 6,274 products going to EU states.