Philippine ramps up agriculture export push after banana rebound

February 8, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Fresh off its return as the world’s second-largest banana exporter, the Philippines is expanding its export playbook to focus on 10 additional high-value crops.

Alongside bananas and mangoes, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is gearing up to actively promote asparagus, avocado, cacao, calamansi, coffee, dragon fruit, durian, okra, pomelo and rambutan in global markets.

The move comes after the Philippines regained its previous spot in the international banana market last year, thanks to supply improvements driven by new investments.

The country exported nearly three million metric tons of fresh bananas in 2025, up from 2.33 million MT in 2024, according to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization.

This recovery not only restores the Philippines’ standing in the global banana market but also reinforces confidence in its agricultural strategy and sets the stage for broader export growth, the DA said.

“Many thought the banana industry was in decline. This is proof of concept that when interventions are done right, we can reverse the trend,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in a statement.

Building on this momentum, the DA intends to scale its export strategy to other high-value crops, Tiu Laurel noted.

Fruits and peels are currently the country’s second-largest agricultural exports. In November 2025 alone, exports of these products surged by 33 percent year-on-year to $244.4 million, based on the latest available data.

The DA said the country’s banana rebound reflects a wider shift in its strategy, with focus now moving from volume-driven production to value-oriented, export-ready agriculture.

“If disease risks are managed and investments sustained, the DA’s strategy could reposition the Philippines not just as a major supplier but as a more diversified and resilient agricultural exporter,” the agency said.

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