Durian exports to China are seen yielding as much as $150 million, or P8.29 billion, in export receipts this year alone, according to the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI).
Glenn Panganiban, Bureau of Plant Industry director and officer-in-charge, said Tuesday the forecast depends ultimately on fruit production as well as compliance with China’s shipping guidelines.
“Mainly, our production come from Davao region and at present we have 59 registered farms, five licensed packing facilities and five licensed exporters that we endorsed to the government of China,” Panganiban said.
There is no limit to the volume of durian that may be shipped to China but some 50,000 metric tons (MT) are projected in the initial phase of the agreement.
Apart from durian, Panganiban bared the possible shipment of other crops to China such as banana, pineapple, mango, avocado, papaya, coconut, cacao, coffee, okra and asparagus.
The Philippines is set to start shipping durian to China this month with an initial volume of 7,500 metric tons.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. met with Chinese agriculture executives in Beijing in the early January state visit that resulted in the signing of a protocol for the export of fresh Philippine durian.
The durian export is part of China’s $2.09-billion fruit purchase plan that include coconut and bananas from the Philippines.
