Davao city: Davao Region continues to dominate durian production in the Philippines, with 1.3 million trees planted across 16,600 hectares producing 78,800 metric tons in 2023. This was highlighted by Emmanuel Belviz, President of the Durian Industry Association of Davao City, during the National Durian Summit.
According to Philippines News Agency, the summit, attended by 300 participants, featured discussions on market expansion, farm practices, and business linkages. Department of Agriculture (DA) 11 (Davao Region) Director Macario Gonzaga emphasized the export potential of durian and the need for high standards in quality and food safety.
Belviz explained that the Philippines holds the position of the fourth largest durian-exporting country with a 0.306 percent share in the global market. In the previous year, the country exported 4,971 metric tons of fresh durian, valued at USD12.2 million, to various countries including China, which received 89 percent of the exports, as well as to Hong Kong, Japan, M
alaysia, Singapore, Qatar, the United States, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Norway.
Gonzaga stressed the importance of meeting export demand, particularly from China, by maintaining high quality and safety standards to compete effectively with neighboring Southeast Asian countries.