PHL food exporters generate P604 million in sales leads from Singapore trade show

FOOD EXPORTERS generated about P604 million worth of sales leads with supermarkets and distributors at a recent trade show in Singapore, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.

In a statement on Monday, the DTI said food exporters generated the equivalent of P181.46 million in initial sales and the rest in estimated potential deals at the Food & Hospitality Asia (FHA) 2026 trade show in Singapore.

The Philippine pavilion drew interest from buyers from Singapore, South Korea, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Dubai, Europe, and the Americas, the DTI said.

The Philippine participation was organized by the Export Marketing Bureau and the Philippine Trade and Investment Centre in Singapore (PTIC). It showcased export-ready products such as coconut-based ingredients, natural snacks, specialty coffee and chocolate, and wellness-oriented food products with international certifications.

“FHA Singapore is not just about accessing the Singapore market. It serves as a gateway to regional and global buyers, and we are already seeing interest translating into opportunities beyond Singapore’s borders,” PTIC Singapore Commercial Counsellor Carla Grepo said.

According to the DTI, participating companies included Bahaghari Global Food, Inc.; Cattleya & Rose Gourmet Foods Trading (Sagana); Cocoplus Aquarian Development Corp.; Fruits of Life, Inc.; Global Foodsolutions, Inc.; Jamla Corp.; KKK Food Corp.; Pasciolco Agri Ventures; Tongsan Industrial Development Corp.; Wellnesscare Int’l Corp.; Pili Crush; and Verra Coffee.

The DTI also hosted a Philippine Country Day Happy Hour during the event, it said, which allowed Philippine exporters to engage directly with buyers, distributors, and industry partners across the region.

Over 2,750 exhibitors from more than 115 countries and regions participated in this year’s FHA, which included participants from the food & beverage, hospitality, and wine industries.

Singapore was the Philippines’ ninth biggest export market. In the first two months of the year, Philippine goods shipped to Singapore amounted to $554 million, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Total exports were valued at $14.47 billion at the end of February, the PSA said. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz