MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines has expanded its agricultural footprint in the Middle East with a shipment of fresh pineapples to the United Arab Emirates.
About 18 metric tons of premium MD2 pineapples arrived at the Port of Khor Fakkan in the UAE on June 28, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said in a statement on Tuesday.
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Pineapple shipments were packed in 1,500 boxes, which were sourced from farms in Tampakan, South Cotabato.
Philippine government officials commemorated this development with a ceremonial launch at Dubai’s Al Aweer Fruit and Vegetable Market.
Davao-based exporter Mensch Fil-Am Trading facilitated the shipment in partnership with Avante Agri-Products Philippines Inc., while Octagon General Trading LLC supported the distribution.
The DA said the company is working with partners in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf markets to distribute Philippine fruits, including bananas, mangoes, durian and pomelo.
“Officials said regular shipments are expected every two weeks, signaling sustained demand for premium Philippine tropical fruits in one of the region’s fastest-growing food import markets,” it said.
The latest venture into the UAE market forms part of the DA’s ongoing efforts to diversify export markets, strengthen trade linkages and promote Philippine agricultural exports across the Middle East.
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“The latest export also reflects a broader strategy to reduce reliance on traditional markets by expanding the country’s presence across the Gulf Cooperation Council, where rising populations, tourism and limited domestic agricultural production continue to fuel demand for imported fresh produce,” it added.
The DA said earlier fresh pineapples and Cavendish bananas are the main Philippine export products to the Middle East. INQ