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The Philippines has long been an underserved market and an anomaly in Southeast Asia for U.S. seafood, accounting for less than $10 million of the total foreign supply in 2021, valued at $970 million.

This report outlines Philippine government requirements for the importation of food and agricultural products. The report aims to assist U.S. exporters by providing information on labeling, packaging, permitted ingredients, and other relevant information.

This report outlines the Philippine government’s required documents of the United States in order to facilitate the importation of U.S. food and agricultural products. Post has not made substantive changes to the report for 2022.

Post forecasts sugar production in Marketing Year (MY) 2023 to decline by 50,000 MT to 2 million MT, as high fertilizer prices lead to reduced yields. Production for MY 2022 is also lowered to reflect the damage to sugar farms in December 2021 by Typhoon Rai (local name Odette).

The 2021 U.S. Agricultural Export Yearbook provides a statistical summary of U.S. agricultural commodity exports to the world.

Panama recognizes the certificates and standards of the U.S. regulatory and sanitary inspection system, based on the United States – Panama Agreement regarding certain sanitary and phytosanitary measures and technical standards affecting trade in agricultural products, of December 20, 2006, simplifying requirements for the importation of U.S. food and feed products. Panama is accepting the electronic export certificates issued by APHIS and FSIS; and the sanitary and free sale certificates issued by NOAA, FDA and Enterprise Florida, Inc. for food products exported to Panama.

New changes to Panama's import requirements reflected in this report are for fresh potatoes, poultry products, and sanitary registrations for pet food, raw materials, ingredients and additives. Consumers continue to perceive U.S. food products as high quality, wholesome and reliable, which has resulted in continuous growth in demand.

Philippine demand for imported high-quality food and beverage ingredients remains strong, despite supply chain disruptions, rising inflation, and logistical challenges.

This report provides information to U.S. exporters of agricultural and related products on how to do business with the Food Processing industry in Panama. It is primarily a service-based economy, but food processing is one of its top industries.

The Philippines is the largest market for U.S. soybean meal (SBM) and a top coconut oil exporter. The country is also a major palm oil market for neighboring ASEAN countries. The loosening of COVID-related restrictions and the corresponding economic rebound are expected to support greater demand for soybean meal.

In 2016, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Philippine Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) agreed on a county-based format for managing trade restrictions due to detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in the United States.