The Philippines has locked in major agreements worth a combined $27 million—roughly ₱1.7 billion8—with Chinese firm Somago (Tianjin) Cross-border E-commerce Co. Ltd., opening significant new market opportunities for durian producers in Davao, the Department of Agriculture announced Tuesday. Signed during the China International Import Expo 2026, the deals cover both strategic cooperation and frozen durian procurement, strengthening commercial links between Philippine suppliers and Chinese consumers.
The first agreement, between Davao-based Eng Seng Food Products and Somago, establishes an annual cooperation framework valued at $17 million, effective November 2026 through November 2027, with room for further growth through negotiation. Eng Seng manages durian from cultivation to processing and cold-chain shipping, already exports to China, and works directly with around 2,000 local farmers. The second deal, with Maylong Enterprises Corp., also based in Davao, sets an annual procurement target of $10 million for frozen durian pulp from November 1 this year through October 31 next year. Maylong holds all necessary certifications to export its products to China.
Somago will use the Jizhou Bonded Logistics Center in Tianjin for warehousing, logistics and cross-border distribution, focusing on bringing Philippine frozen durian to consumers across China. Department of Agriculture Assistant Secretary Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra said these agreements represent exactly the kind of tangible results the country aimed for at the expo. “This is what we came to CIIE for—to turn opportunities into actual business partnerships and open more markets for our Filipino agricultural products,” she stated. “Beyond showcasing what the Philippines can offer, we want to see our farmers, fisherfolk, and agri-enterprises benefit from meaningful trade agreements and increased export opportunities.”
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. noted that expanding overseas markets delivers more than just export earnings. “By expanding overseas markets, we are not only strengthening the country’s agricultural trade position through higher export earnings but also encouraging much-needed investments in the agriculture sector,” he explained. These new agreements build on last year’s performance at CIIE 2025, where Philippine participation generated booked sales valued at 920.58 million pesos and delivered a return on investment of more than 250 percent. Alongside the two durian agreements, four additional memoranda of understanding and purchase intent letters were signed at this year’s expo, bringing the total value of Philippine agricultural export transactions—covering fresh and frozen durian, fresh eels, young coconuts and other frozen fruits—to an estimated 3.8 billion pesos. The Department of Agriculture said these outcomes show clearly how the expo helps turn initial discussions into real export business, giving Philippine companies better access to international buyers and supporting them to expand production.
