PH starts fresh mango exports to Australia


The Philippines will start shipping fresh mangoes to Australia starting June 2023, the Philippine Embassy in Canberra announced Monday, June 5.

The Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Sydney (PTIC Sydney) and the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Plant Industry-National Plant Quarantine Services Division (BPI-NPQSD) said arrangements are being made possible by Fastboxph, a Sydney-based e-Commerce and logistics provider and 1Export, a one-stop platform for cross border trade and fulfillment services.

Since 2016, protocols have been in place for the export of mangoes to Australia and the Specific Commodity Understanding (SCU). The SCU is an arrangement document for the importation of fresh mango fruit from the Philippines to Australia under Australia’s Biosecurity Act 2015, which have been amended and updated throughout the years to include export opportunities for Filipino mango farmers, according to the BPI-NPQSD.

For many years, Australians have been enjoying dried mangoes which has become a popular healthy snack in Australia. “It is now time for Aussies to enjoy our much beloved fruit in the Philippines,” Philippine Ambassador to Australia H.E. Ma. Hellen B. De La Vega said in a statement.

Ambassador De La Vega highlighted that the Philippines produces mangoes all year around, while Australia produces its own mangoes for only certain months of the year, from September through April. The winter season is the best time to make this available in the market to ensure Filipinos and Australians alike are able to enjoy national fruit of the Philippines all year round.

“Australia has always been supportive of our efforts to improve our agricultural trade, particularly the exports of mangoes. In 2018, the Australian Embassy in the Philippines reported that the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) provided AUS$1.1 million grant funding to a 4-year project which passed on farming technology that improved mango quality and size for Davao farmers,” Philippine Trade Representative to Australia Alma Argayoso said.

Argayoso noted there has been interest in mango exports in recent years, but plans have been delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. “Our mission is to work with government authorities and industry partners to bring to Australia the highest quality Filipino products and help lift trade between our two countries,” Argayoso added.

Pre-ordering of mangoes is available for sub-distributors and retailers at www.philippinemango.com.au.