Browse Data and Analysis

On August 20, 2024, the Philippines notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of GBT/TBT/N/PHL/336 on the Guidelines on the Adoption of Codex Guidelines for Ready-To-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) (CXC 95-2022) as Technical Regulation.

The Philippines recently notified regulations on follow-up formula or milk supplements and products for young children to the World Trade Organization.

FAS Manila forecasts 2025 beef/carabeef and pork imports at 226,000 and 510,000 metric tons carcass weight equivalent, respectively. Strong economic growth, moderating inflation, and forecast population increases support higher meat imports in 2025.

The Philippines issued Sugar Order No. 5 (SO5) announcing the importation of 240,000 metric tons (MT) of refined sugar, the first sugar import program for marketing year (MY) 2024-2025 which starts in September 2024 and ends in August 2025.

The Philippines is set to resume raw sugar exports to the United States under its sugar quota in August 2024. The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) issued Sugar Order (SO) No. 3 on July 26, approving the export of 25,300 metric tons raw value (MTRV) of raw sugar in fulfillment of the United States tariff rate quota (TRQ) allocation for fiscal year 2024.

Despite record production and ample stocks, the Philippines is forecast to import a record volume of rice. Large imports are spurred in part by high domestic prices and the recent government decision to reduce tariffs from 35 to 15 percent.

Fueled by a rebound in hospitality and food service, the Philippine economy outperformed Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia in 2023 despite inflationary pressure. Total U.S. agricultural and related exports to the Philippines reached $3.6 billion in 2023 with U.S. consumer-oriented and intermediate agricultural exports ranking the highest in Southeast Asia.

On June 20, 2024, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued Executive Order No. 62 (EO 62) modifying the import duty rates of various commodities. EO 62 provides a multi-year comprehensive tariff schedule and applies to commodities subject to the Most Favored Nation (MFN) rates.

Fueled by Filipinos' fondness for food indulgences, rising disposable incomes, and increasing urbanization, the $1.2 billion confectionery and ice cream market is expected to see robust growth of eight percent annually through 2028.

On May 7, 2024, the Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary signed three Department Circulars (DCs) on the implementing guidelines and specifications for the roll-out of voluntary E20 gasoline and mandatory B3 diesel blends.

Post sees Philippine biofuels consumption recovering in 2024 in line with economic growth, as fuel ethanol demand grows 8 percent to 682 million liters and biodiesel increases at 0.8 percent to 240 million liters.

This report outlines the Philippine government’s required documents from the United States in order to facilitate the importation of U.S. food and agricultural products.