Banana exporters to invest more, eye US market

MANILA, Philippines - Banana exporters aiming to tap the US market must invest in a ripening room in the mainland, according to Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala.

After China imposed stricter sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) restrictions on Philippine banana exports, the country had set its sights on the US market, particularly to defense commissaries.

Alcala earlier said the US market would be bigger than the Chinese market.

Fruit and vegetable exporter Dole Philippines may have the first access to the US market with a maiden shipment of 3,000 metric tons of Cavendish bananas targeted by the end of the year.

On Oct. 1, Alcala and US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas Jr. visited  the Dole manufacturing facility in Bulidnon to inspect the packaging process.

“It seems that when we went there, they were pleased with the process,” said Alcala.

Alcala said there are other companies interested to tap the US market but Dole Philippines has the proper facilities for handling bananas post-transport, already having established a presence in the US.

“Banana exportation does not end with shipment. After shipment, it has to be placed in a ripening room in a controlled temperature…. If you do not have a ripening room, it would be useless to export (to the US),” he said. “It needs investment and once you have put that it place, you can enter the market.”

Aside from the US, the government is also actively engaging Japan, Korea and Middle East countries to absorb banana exports.

The Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) recently asked Chinese Ambassador to Manila Ma Keqing to help ease the trade restrictions on Philippine bananas to China, claiming the industry has lost P3.025 billion in revenues since the imposition of stricter SPS measures on Philippine banana exports early this year.

PBGEA director Stephen Antig said Ma promised to organize a meeting between banana exporters and prospective Chinese importers to discuss increased importation.

China imposed stricter SPS measures on Philippine bananas in May, at the height of the maritime standoff between Philippine and Chinese troops in Panatag Shoal.