Imports of processed veggies from US surging

MANILA -The United States is poised to become the second-largest supplier of processed vegetables to the Philippines this year, eclipsing vendors from Southeast Asian nations, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) said.

In a report, the agency said US exports climbed by 22 percent between January and August this year. It did not provide comparative figures.

The Philippines imported 512,000 metric tons (MT) of processed vegetables valued at $460 million (P25.5 billion) in 2023, an increment of 35 percent.

China currently holds the largest market share of 28 percent in the past year, followed by (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) members with 22 percent and the US with 21 percent.

“Imports increased 40 percent as of August 2023, coinciding with a 5-percent rise in GDP (gross domestic product) during the first half of the year,” the USDA said.

Frozen potatoes and cassava starch are the main processed vegetables purchased by the Philippines last year, equivalent to 161,000 MT and 159,000 MT, respectively.

Other items include 62,000 MT of potato chips, 43,000 MT of prepared tomatoes, 23,000 MT of potato starch, 22,000 MT of prepared sweet corn, 21,000 MT of prepared mushrooms, 17,000 MT of potato flour, 14,000 MT of prepared mixed vegetables and 7,000 MT of mixed vegetables powder or granules.

The USDA pegged the country’s annual per capita consumption of vegetables at 45 kilograms, less than one-third of the Food and Agriculture Organization’s recommended intake, even if the government aims to improve the figure by 1 percent annually.