From powering global fruit bowls to nourishing a nation, the Philippines' food industry is a vibrant, complex powerhouse, as shown by its staggering 19.96 million metric tons of palay production, its reign as the world's top banana producer, and a domestic market where processed food sales reached USD 25.6 billion in 2022 alone.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the Philippines' palay production reached 19.96 million metric tons, a 1.9% increase from 2021, primarily driven by expanded harvest areas in Central Luzon;
- The Philippines produced 2.76 million metric tons of corn in 2022, with yellow corn accounting for 62% of total output;
- Banana production in the Philippines hit 9.53 million metric tons in 2022, making it the world's top banana producer;
- The Philippine food processing industry market size was valued at USD 25.6 billion in 2022, projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.2% to 2030;
- Processed meat segment dominated with 28% market share in 2022, valued at USD 7.2 billion;
- Dairy products market reached USD 4.8 billion in 2022, driven by UHT milk demand;
- The food processing sector employed 4.2 million people directly in 2022, 12% of total employment;
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing (including food prod) employed 22.8 million in 2022;
- Food and beverage manufacturing subsector had 1.1 million workers in 2022;
- Philippines exported USD 7.2 billion worth of food products in 2022, led by coconut oil at USD 1.8 billion;
- Banana exports reached 2.2 million metric tons valued at USD 1.5 billion in 2022;
- Pineapple exports were 1.2 million MT worth USD 800 million in 2022 to Japan and US;
- Average per capita food consumption was 1,250 kg/year in 2022;
- Rice consumption averaged 119 kg per capita annually in 2022;
- Pork consumption was 15.5 kg/capita in 2022;
The Philippines' diverse food industry grew significantly in 2022, yet remains a major net importer.
Consumption
- Average per capita food consumption was 1,250 kg/year in 2022;
- Rice consumption averaged 119 kg per capita annually in 2022;
- Pork consumption was 15.5 kg/capita in 2022;
- Chicken meat consumption reached 18 kg/capita in 2022;
- Fish consumption averaged 33 kg/capita fresh weight in 2022;
- Sugar consumption was 25 kg/capita in 2022;
- Vegetable consumption 85 kg/capita/year in 2022;
- Fruit consumption 45 kg/capita in 2022;
- Dairy consumption 12 liters/capita in 2022;
- Soft drink consumption 50 liters/capita in 2022;
- Instant coffee consumption 1.2 kg/capita/year in 2022;
- Bread consumption 25 kg/capita in 2022;
- Processed food share in diet 55% in 2022;
- Household food expenditure 45% of total spending in 2022;
- Urban food spending PHP 15,000/month/household in 2022;
- Rural food spending PHP 8,500/month/household in 2022;
- Obesity rate 28% among adults in 2022, linked to processed foods;
- Food waste per capita 1.5 kg/week in urban areas 2022;
- Online food orders 2.5 billion in 2022;
- Street food consumption daily by 70% of urban population in 2022;
- Plant-based meat alternatives consumption up 25% to 0.5 kg/capita 2022;
- Energy intake from food 2,200 kcal/capita/day in 2022;
- Protein from animal sources 35g/capita/day in 2022;
- Household size average 4.2, affecting bulk food buys in 2022;
Consumption Interpretation
The Filipino diet in 2022 was a hearty, rice-centric balancing act, managing to squeeze instant coffee and soft drinks between a steadfast love for street food and vegetables while its wallet and waistline protested the growing influence of processed fare.
Employment
- The food processing sector employed 4.2 million people directly in 2022, 12% of total employment;
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing (including food prod) employed 22.8 million in 2022;
- Food and beverage manufacturing subsector had 1.1 million workers in 2022;
- Retail trade in food products employed 2.5 million in 2022;
- Wholesale of food employed 450,000 workers in 2022;
- Food service industry (restaurants) employed 3.8 million in 2022;
- Fisheries sector employed 1.6 million fishers in 2022;
- Rice milling employed 250,000 workers in 2022;
- Sugar milling workforce was 120,000 in 2022;
- Poultry processing plants employed 180,000 in 2022;
- Dairy processing had 50,000 employees in 2022;
- Fruit canning industry employed 80,000 seasonal workers in 2022;
- Bakery sector workforce reached 600,000 in 2022;
- Beverage manufacturing employed 150,000 in 2022;
- Supermarket chains food section employed 1.2 million in 2022;
- Wet market vendors (food) numbered 1.5 million in 2022;
- Food delivery riders grew to 200,000 in 2022;
- Organic farming employed 300,000 farmers in 2022;
- Aquaculture workers totaled 500,000 in 2022;
- Coconut processing employed 400,000 in 2022;
- Average wage in food manufacturing was PHP 18,000/month in 2022;
- Unemployment rate in agriculture was 5.2% in 2022;
- Women comprised 45% of food processing workforce in 2022;
- Youth employment (15-24) in food sector was 1.2 million in 2022;
Employment Interpretation
Nearly a quarter of the entire Filipino workforce is engaged in feeding the nation, making the food industry a gargantuan economic engine that, from farm to fork, is both the backbone of the country and a daily, humbling reminder that someone’s got to process all that coconut, deliver that *sisig*, and be the one to finally slice the *pan de sal*.
Exports & Imports
- Philippines exported USD 7.2 billion worth of food products in 2022, led by coconut oil at USD 1.8 billion;
- Banana exports reached 2.2 million metric tons valued at USD 1.5 billion in 2022;
- Pineapple exports were 1.2 million MT worth USD 800 million in 2022 to Japan and US;
- Processed tuna exports hit USD 600 million in 2022, 60% to EU;
- Desiccated coconut exports were 1.1 million MT valued at USD 1.2 billion in 2022;
- Shrimp exports reached USD 150 million in 2022;
- Mango exports totaled 50,000 MT worth USD 100 million in 2022;
- Food imports totaled USD 12.5 billion in 2022, wheat at USD 2.1 billion;
- Rice imports were 3.1 million MT valued at USD 1.8 billion in 2022;
- Pork imports reached 500,000 MT worth USD 1.2 billion in 2022 due to ASF;
- Dairy imports were USD 1.5 billion in 2022, milk powder 70%;
- Soybean imports for feed totaled 3.5 million MT USD 2 billion in 2022;
- Corn imports 5.2 million MT USD 1.4 billion in 2022;
- Sugar imports 800,000 MT USD 400 million in 2022;
- Edible oil imports USD 1.8 billion, palm oil dominant;
- Frozen meat imports USD 900 million in 2022;
- Processed cheese imports USD 300 million in 2022;
- Trade balance for food was deficit of USD 5.3 billion in 2022;
- Top food export markets: Japan 25%, US 20%, China 15% in 2022;
- EU GSP+ boosted food exports by 10% to USD 1 billion in 2022;
- ASEAN food trade surplus USD 500 million in 2022;
- Halal-certified food exports USD 200 million in 2022;
- Organic food exports reached USD 50 million in 2022;
- Seaweed exports USD 300 million, carrageenan to US/EU;
Exports & Imports Interpretation
While the Philippines serves up a winning tropical platter to the world, its own pantry remains frustratingly reliant on foreign staples, leaving the national kitchen with a hefty bill to pay.
Market Size & Value
- The Philippine food processing industry market size was valued at USD 25.6 billion in 2022, projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.2% to 2030;
- Processed meat segment dominated with 28% market share in 2022, valued at USD 7.2 billion;
- Dairy products market reached USD 4.8 billion in 2022, driven by UHT milk demand;
- Bakery products industry valued at PHP 250 billion in 2022;
- Instant noodles market size was PHP 45 billion in 2022, with 5 billion packs sold;
- Bottled water market grew to PHP 60 billion in 2022, 12% YoY growth;
- Ready-to-eat meals segment was valued at USD 1.2 billion in 2022;
- Snack food market size hit USD 3.5 billion in 2022, chips leading at 35%;
- Frozen food market reached PHP 120 billion in 2022, CAGR 8.5%;
- Fruit and vegetable processing market was USD 2.1 billion in 2022;
- Edible oils market size was PHP 180 billion in 2022, coconut oil 60%;
- Sugar refining industry output value PHP 150 billion in 2022;
- Beverage industry (non-alcoholic) valued at USD 10 billion in 2022;
- Confectionery market size PHP 90 billion in 2022;
- Canned goods market was USD 2.8 billion in 2022;
- Food service market size reached PHP 500 billion in 2022 pre-COVID recovery;
- Organic food market grew to PHP 25 billion in 2022, 15% CAGR;
- Halal food market valued at USD 1.5 billion in 2022;
- Plant-based food market size was PHP 10 billion in 2022;
- Food e-commerce sales hit PHP 150 billion in 2022;
- Pet food market (related to food industry inputs) USD 400 million in 2022;
- Food additives market size PHP 30 billion in 2022;
- Packaging for food industry valued at USD 2.5 billion in 2022;
Market Size & Value Interpretation
The Philippines' thriving food industry is a sprawling, multi-billion-dollar testament to a national appetite that, from processed meat dominance to the quiet rise of plant-based options, demands everything from instant gratification in a noodle pack to considered choices in organic produce, all while quenching its thirst with bottled water at a frankly impressive rate.
Production
- In 2022, the Philippines' palay production reached 19.96 million metric tons, a 1.9% increase from 2021, primarily driven by expanded harvest areas in Central Luzon;
- The Philippines produced 2.76 million metric tons of corn in 2022, with yellow corn accounting for 62% of total output;
- Banana production in the Philippines hit 9.53 million metric tons in 2022, making it the world's top banana producer;
- In 2023, pineapple production volume was 2.69 million metric tons, with Mindanao contributing over 95% of the total;
- Coconut production reached 14.93 million metric tons in 2022, down 2.7% from the previous year due to typhoon impacts;
- Sugarcane production in 2022/23 was 24.65 million metric tons, led by Negros Occidental with 52%;
- Mango production totaled 1.04 million metric tons in 2022, with CALABARZON as the top region;
- In 2022, the Philippines' swine population was 13.12 million heads, supporting pork production of 1.58 million metric tons;
- Poultry production reached 1.84 million metric tons in 2022, with chicken broilers comprising 75%;
- Milkfish (bangus) production from aquaculture was 248,000 metric tons in 2022;
- Tilapia aquaculture production hit 142,000 metric tons in 2022, mainly from freshwater ponds;
- Seaweed production, primarily carrageenan types, reached 1.49 million metric tons in 2022;
- Coffee production was 60,000 metric tons in 2022/23, with Robusta variety dominating 95%;
- Cacao production totaled 10,000 metric tons in 2022, up 20% due to new plantings;
- Vegetable production reached 8.2 million metric tons in 2022, led by cabbage and tomato;
- In 2022, total irrigated land for food crops was 1.7 million hectares, covering 50% of rice areas;
- Fertilizer use in food crops averaged 120 kg/ha in 2022, highest for rice at 150 kg/ha;
- Pesticide consumption in agriculture was 12,500 metric tons in 2022;
- Mechanization level in rice farming reached 70% for harvesting in 2022;
- Seed production for hybrid rice was 25,000 metric tons in 2022;
- Organic farming area expanded to 150,000 hectares in 2022, 2% of total cropland;
- In 2022, the value of food crop production was PHP 1.2 trillion, with rice at 40%;
- Yield of irrigated rice averaged 4.5 metric tons/ha in 2022;
- Rainfed rice yield was 2.8 metric tons/ha in 2022;
- Total livestock inventory was 20.5 million heads in 2022;
- Commercial layer population was 48 million birds in 2022;
- Capture fisheries production was 1.2 million metric tons in 2022;
- Aquaculture contribution to fish production was 52% or 1.1 million MT in 2022;
- Abaca fiber production reached 72,000 metric tons in 2022, used in food packaging;
- Cashew nut production was 45,000 metric tons in 2022;
Production Interpretation
The Philippines is not just a tropical paradise, but a formidable, banana-crowned agricultural powerhouse that meticulously balances its throne between the typhoons and the tractors to keep its nation and the world's fruit bowls generously full.
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