The Philippines has opened a new export market for its local cacao sector, with the first-ever commercial batch of fermented cacao beans sent to New Zealand, the Department of Agriculture (DA) announced Wednesday.
The 6,000-kilogram shipment comes directly from Kapalong, Davao del Norte. It was formally cleared for dispatch at the Headcorp CY facility in Carmen, Davao del Norte, and departed the country on July 13. It is expected to arrive at the Port of Lyttelton later this month.
This development provides local growers with an additional export channel, as the government works to turn high-value crops into greater sources of farm earnings and foreign currency. The size of this maiden shipment is nearly equal to the Philippines’ total cacao exports of 6,232 metric tons for the whole of 2025, showing both the importance of this first order and the room for growth in this market.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. noted that expanding farm exports creates more opportunities for farmers while helping narrow the country’s long-standing agricultural trade gap. “Every new export market we open gives our farmers another chance to earn more from their produce, while bringing in more foreign exchange… We must keep developing these markets, because stronger farm exports mean better incomes for farmers and a bigger contribution from agriculture to the overall economy,” he said.
The shipment was arranged by Pemline Export Trading Co. in cooperation with the Kapalong Cooperative. Before leaving the country, DA and Plant Quarantine Service teams checked the goods and confirmed they meet New Zealand’s import standards. The beans underwent a 120-hour fumigation treatment with aluminum phosphide, followed by the required airing period, before all paperwork and regulatory steps were completed.
“This clearly shows that our efforts to support local producers and modernize supply chains for high-value export crops are delivering real results internationally,” said Agriculture Undersecretary Philip Young.
According to latest figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority, the country produced 11,868.20 metric tons of cacao last year — 9.4 percent higher than the 10,843.53 metric tons recorded in 2024.
