Government investments have helped boost the local banana industry as the Philippines returned as the second-largest global banana exporter, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Tuesday.
Based on the recent United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report, the Philippines ranks just behind Ecuador in banana exports, and is the top exporter in Asia, as the country’s banana exports jumped by 25.6 percent to 2.93 million metric tons (MMT) in 2025.
In 2024, the Philippines was ranked the third-largest supplier of banana in the world.
In a statement, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the progress is a vote of confidence in the Marcos administration’s agricultural strategy and a springboard for more aggressive export expansion.
“Many thought the banana industry was in decline. This is proof of concept that when interventions are done right, we can reverse the trend,” he said.
Under the 2025 High Value Crops Development Program, the DA has distributed 106,000 planting materials to expand and rejuvenate banana production.
The program also granted 120,000 units of organic fertilizer and 215,000 biological control agents to Filipino farmers to help restore soil health, ensure plant resilience and reduce post-harvest losses.
The FAO attributed the rebound mainly to a surge in Philippine supplies following a recovery from weather- and disease-related damage in recent years.
Industry sources cited in the report pointed to significant investments in banana production in Cagayan Valley, supported by the DA’s provision of organic fertilizer and other inputs.
Recently, the Philippine Cardaba Banana variety, commonly known as saba is driving exports with products such as banana chips, steamed saba and banana catsup.
The notable rebound happened despite the threat of Fusarium wilt tropical race 4, or Panama disease in the country.
It has affected 15,500 hectares in the Davao region, putting pressure on the Cavendish variety that anchors the country’s banana export.
To sustain industry gains, authorities stressed the importance of containment and mitigation strategies. (PNA)