The Philippines is making a significant push in the Middle East fruit market as premium fresh pineapples from Mindanao make their way to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), expanding a promising export destination for one of the country’s top agricultural products.
The Department of Agriculture (DA), through the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) and Regional Field Office XII, lead the official send-off ceremony on June 6 at the Unifrutti Port in Davao City of fresh Philippine pineapples bound for Khorfakkan Port in the UAE.
The entry of fresh Philippine
pineapples into the United Arab Emirates via commercial shipping vessel despite severe logistical bottlenecks reopens vital pathways into the Middle Eastern market.
The shipment, organized by exported Mensch Fil-Am Corporation headed by its President Racquel S. Simon, consists of 18 metric tons of fresh MD2 pineapples packed in 1,500 boxes and sourced from farms in Tampakan, South Cotabato. The cargo is expected to arrive in the UAE on June 25 or 26.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed how pineapple has become the country’s top export to the UAE.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. described the milestone as a strategic step in expanding overseas markets for Philippine agricultural products while creating broader economic benefits for farming communities.
“Every box of Philippine produce that reaches a new or existing market represents more income for farmers, more jobs for workers, and more value created at home. That is why we are aggressively pursuing new export opportunities for Philippine agriculture,” Tiu Laurel said.
“Our goal is not merely to export more products but to build a stronger and more competitive farm sector where Filipino farmers directly benefit from global market opportunities,” the DA chief added.
By connecting local growers to high-value markets such as the UAE, the DA encourages greater investments in agricultural production, create sustainable livelihood opportunities, and help rural communities become active participants in economic growth.
The DA said the High Value Export Crop, Agri Fishery Export Development and Promotion Office was created under Tiu Laurel and is headed by Undersecretary Philip C. Young and BPI Director and concurrent Director of High Value Export Crop, Agri Fishery Export Development and Promotion Office Glenn Panganiban.
The export breakthrough comes despite persistent logistical disruptions and elevated freight costs linked to the ongoing Red Sea crisis, underscoring the resilience of Philippine exporters and the growing competitiveness of the country’s high-value crops sector.
The DA said the successful shipment also demonstrates the industry’s ability to comply with stringent international phytosanitary standards and UAE import requirements, paving the way for future exports to the Gulf region.
Beyond the commercial transaction, officials see the shipment as a catalyst for stronger trade relations with the UAE and a gateway to broader opportunities across the Middle East.
The initiative also supports the administration’s efforts to narrow the country’s agricultural trade gap, which remained substantial at USD11.1 billion in 2025 despite a 5-percent improvement from the previous year.
Following the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the DA has intensified efforts to open new markets for Philippine farm products, with the goal of increasing export earnings, reducing dependence on imported food, and improving the overall balance of agricultural trade.
