Were you able to spot and buy fruits imported from America at the local markets here in the Philippines over the past month? The United States will soon introduce new varieties of fruit to the Philippines in what is seen as a serious effort to break China’s dominance, according to a news report by the Manila Bulletin.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…
The United States (US) aims to introduce new fruit varieties to the Philippines to boost its share of the import market, which has long been dominated by China.
In a market brief published last week by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), American exporters were urged to introduce innovative fruit varieties to the country to sustain the momentum in apple exports.
The USDA expects exports of fresh fruits to fall by at least seven percent to around $13 million this year from $14 million in 2024.
Despite this, the foreign agency said shipments of apples to the country will grow this year, driven by the popularity of the Ambrosia, Cosmic Crisp, and SugarBee varieties. These varieties were introduced to the Philippine market last year and have since gained traction among consumers.
“Consumers are eager to try new-to-market fruit varieties and share their experiences on social media,” the report read.
The USDA noted that only bananas and papayas are harvested year-round in the country, creating an opportunity for American exporters to fill market gaps year-round.
“The United States is widely recognized for consistently supplying premium-quality fruit, and US exporters are encouraged to leverage this reputation,” it said.
The USDA, citing Philippine government data, expects fresh fruit imports this year to grow by 25 percent to around $400 million, up from $321 million in 2024.
Last year, the US only accounted for a three percent share in the import market. Its main shipments were apples, cherries, grapes, oranges, strawberries, cranberries, blueberries, and peaches.
In contrast, China seized 72 percent of the market last year, with its main exports being apples, grapes, mandarins, oranges, and other citrus hybrids.
Also outperforming the US were South Africa and Australia with market shares of nine percent and eight percent, respectively.
With the exception of South Africa, the USDA noted that the dominance of regional suppliers is a result of better prices, largely driven by lower shipping costs and zero-tariff advantages under free trade agreements with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
“The Philippines does not have a preferential trade agreement with the United States or South Africa. As a result, MFN (most-favored-nation) tariff rates apply to fresh fruit imports from both countries,” the report read.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Did you buy any fruits in the local market that were imported from the United States of America? Does the name or image of US President Donald Trump influence your decisions on buying American fruits locally? Apart from prices, how would you compare American fruits with the ones from China in terms of taste, texture and satisfaction?
You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.
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