Ireland is seeking to further improve trade relations with the Philippines as its exports in food and drinks significantly grew, including a 215 percent increase in Irish wine exports.

Bord Bia, the Irish Food Board, visited the country last week, as part of its mission to further strengthen relations with the South East Asia, focusing on Philippines and Malaysia markets.     

The ministerial delegation led by Martin Heydon T.D., Irish Minister of State for Research and Development, Farm Safety and New Market Development, visited Manila on November 7 and Malaysia on November 5. The 2023 South East Asia trade mission aims to strengthen Ireland's reputation for providing sustainable, safe, and high-quality food and drink in the region. 

During the briefing, Heydon cited that Irish exports to South East Asia went up 25 percent to €394 million in 2022, demonstrating Irish suppliers' resilience in boosting supply chains and maintaining profit margins despite prevailing challenges. 

For the Philippines alone, their primary Irish export sectors are dairy (€72 million), beef (€49 million), pigmeat (€24 million), drinks (€1.5 million), sheepmeat (€701,084), and seafood (€91,000).

In particular, the Irish Food Board showed that exports of Irish drinks to the Philippines increased significantly by 215 percent in 2022, driven by whiskey and liqueur exports.

In 2022, Ireland experienced substantial growth in exports to the Philippines, with dairy exports increasing by 107 percent to €72 million, beef exports growing by 91.4 percent, and pigmeat exports rising by 71.4 percent. In 2023 Irish brands Tirlan and Lakeland were launched for retail sales during Bord Bia's Fifth Trade Mission. 

Over the five years leading to 2022, exports in various categories saw remarkable growth, including a 283 percent increase in dairy, a 207 percent increase in beef, and a 205 percent increase in pigmeat exports. Key drivers of value and volume growth in these markets include infant food, buttermilk, SMP, beef offal, ham, and pig offal. The Philippines is the largest market for Irish beef outside of Ireland. 

Irish seafood exports to the Philippines, while growing steadily, remain relatively small compared to other markets, with a 242 percent increase over five years primarily driven by shellfish exports.

Major Irish dairy and meat processors, including Tirlan, Kerry, Carbery, Dairygold, Lakeland, ABP, Kepak, Dawn Meats, and Rosderra, are active in the Philippines market through partnerships with local trading houses and importers. Among these, Tirlan and Lakeland will soon be establishing a retail presence with their dairy products. Kepak, which is among Ireland’s leading meat producers, has an established presence with full-time employees in the market.

Two of Ireland’s leading dairy processors, Tirlán and Lakeland Dairies, have signed agreements with dairy distributors in Manila during the trade mission, to supply Irish cream and butter to the Philippine market. Lakeland Dairies will supply cream under its Millac Gold brand, while Tirlán will supply Avonmore cream and butter.

Overall, Irish food and drink exports to the Philippines have shown impressive growth, particularly in dairy, beef, and pigmeat, reflecting the increasing demand for these products in the region.

In 2022, Irish exports to Asia exceeded €1.4 billion, with South East Asia contributing over €394 million to this figure —which is 27% of Asia’s overall performance. 

There has been a 48 percent increase in Irish dairy exports to Asia so far in 2023, largely driven by the Philippines and Malaysia—A key driver to further leverage on opportunities via 2023’s trade mission.

“The Trade Mission will raise awareness of Ireland’s sustainable food production systems and our commitment to supporting business-to-business relationships which can make a real difference to Irish food and drink exporters. I look forward to building on the strong government-to-government relationships we have during my meetings with my counterparts in the Philippines and to promoting Ireland’s high-quality food offering in this valuable market," said Heydon.

Bord Bia CEO Jim O’Toole also said that the trade mission marks the start of an intensified programme of activity undertaken by Bord Bia to promote Irish food products and their producers to local partners who place a value on high-quality food products. 

“I look forward to setting out Ireland’s commitment to sustainable food production and our ambition for Ireland to be a world leader in Sustainable Food Systems, encompassing sustainability in all its dimensions – environmental, social and economic. Our ambition is to build further on the strong trading relationship Ireland has with our customers in the Philippines and trade missions such as this are a valuable means of raising the profile of Ireland as a food-producing nation and unlocking commercial opportunities for Irish food and drink companies.” 

He further added, “We are committed to developing durable business relationships with our customers here in the Philippines.”

Globally, Irish food and drink exports achieved remarkable growth in the past year to a record-breaking €16.7 billion despite global challenges. Notable global increases were seen in sectors such as Beef (9%) and Dairy (5%) which contributed to this growth. A key performer was Irish dairy exports, which alone were valued at €6.8 billion in 2022, representing a 33 percent year-on-year increase.