Middle East buyers eye RP dried fruits, tropical juices

MANILA, Philippines - Local food exporters can now get a part of the billion dollar Halal food industry as Middle East buyers expressed interest for Philippine made dried fruit and tropical juices, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) reported recently.

According to the DTI, the Middle East food market is a gem opportunity for the Philippine food exporters. The growing number of Filipinos working and permanently residing in the Middle East is a ready market. Aside from the ready Filipino market in the Middle East, the Philippines also targets niche markets including Halal-certified products.

The Middle East which imports 90 percent of its food from overseas has long been a market for Philippine food and beverage companies, the agency added.

The country’s participation in a recent food fair held in Dubai generated $12.9 million in sales for local food exporters.

The Philippine participation in Gulfood is part of the international promotion activities for Philippine food exports led by the DTI. The activity is also meant to attract food buyers to IFEX Philippines, a government-led trade fair for quality and delectable food for exports scheduled this May.

Industry reports said that there are more than 300 Halal-certified companies covering more than 5,000 products in the Philippines. To date, the total value of the global Halal food market is worth about $632 billion.

Dubai offers the best starting point for marketing Philippine foods to the Middle East. It is the transshipment zone to other parts of the Middle East and it offers almost zero tariff rate to exporters.