Philippines still leads Japan’s banana imports — but for how long?

The Philippines still leads Japan’s banana imports, supplying around 75% in 2024 — but that’s down from 94% back in 2013. That drop shows how fast other exporters are catching up. Countries like Vietnam, Cambodia, and Peru are quickly growing their share, thanks to zero-tariff deals with Japan, according to Asia media.

Meanwhile, Philippine bananas still face tariffs as high as 18% during colder months. That means higher prices for Japanese buyers, making Filipino bananas less attractive. For example, Peru boosted its banana exports to Japan by over 65% in the last five years.

Exporters in the Philippines say this gap is hurting their sales and have asked Japan to cut tariffs under their trade agreement. But negotiations have stalled, even though both countries are supposed to review the deal every five years. Without a fix, Japan may keep shifting toward cheaper suppliers — and Filipino farmers could take the hit.

source: businessmirror.com.ph

photo: ifexconnect.com