Food firms generate $597 million exports sales from China fair

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine food firms generated $597.34 million worth of export sales from their recent participation in China’s premier trade event, the export promotion arm of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.

The Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) said export sales from this year’s participation in the China International Import Expo (CIIE), held from Nov. 5 to 10 at the National Exhibition Center in Shanghai, are 29 percent higher than last year’s $462 million.

Of the total export sales this year, $575.03 million came from the signing of memorandum of understanding with buyers, while $22.31 million were from sales booked on the trade floor and business matching activities organized by the DTI Export Marketing Bureau and Food2China.

“This year’s results show the continuously growing trade relationship between the Philippines and China. We are grateful to have the opportunity to showcase outstanding Filipino food products in the international market and are looking forward to expanding this relationship in other industries,” DTI Undersecretary for Trade Promotions Group Abdulgani Macatoman said.

China is a leading export market for the Philippines, accounting for 27 percent of the country’s total exports.

A total of 40 Filipino companies took part in the recent CIIE and showcased a range of tropical fruits, processed fruits and vegetables, healthy snacks, seafood and marine products, and other premium food items.

These companies are AG Grays Farm, AgriNurture Inc., Avante Agri-Products Philippines Inc., B&C Healthy Snack Foods Inc., Castillo Import Export Ventures Inc., Century International (China) Co., CJ Uniworld Corp., Century Pacific Agricultural Ventures Inc., DOLE Asia Holdings Pte Ltd., DOLE Packaged Foods (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Eau de Coco, Eng Seng Food Products, Excellent Quality Goods Supply Co., Fisher Farms, Gerb Golden Hands Trading, Good Sense Food & Juices Corp., Hancole Corp., Hijo Resources Corp., Innovative Packaging, Island Fun Inc., Jegen S.W.E. Enterprises, JNRM Corp., Jugard Foods Co. Ltd., M. Lhuillier Food Products, Magic Melt Foods, Marigold Manufacturing Corp., Monde Nissin Corp., NutriAsia, Oleofats Inc., Orich International Traders Inc., Raspina Tropical Fruits Inc., Republic Biscuit Corp., S&W Fine Foods, See’s International Food Manufacturing Corp., Sunnjef Plantation Inc., Tanduay Distillers Inc., Team Asia Corp., Uni Steady, Vegetari Vegetarian Products, and Weambard International Technology Inc.

During the CIIE, the Philippines highlighted the country as a source of healthy and organic products.