Philippines durian gains entry into Egypt

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has officially gained market access for its fresh durian to Egypt, the Bureau of Plant Industry said.

The BPI confirmed on May 18 the opening of the Egyptian market for the country’s up-and-rising fruit export, marking the conclusion of nearly two years of negotiations between the two countries.

“This reflects regulatory compliance and growing confidence in the country’s plant health and safety systems,” the BPI said.

The BPI said Philippine exporters must ensure that their Egyptian partner-importers will obtain an import permit through the Egyptian Agricultural Quarantine’s electronic system to facilitate the shipments of fresh durian.

The BPI said it would only issue a phytosanitary certificate verifying that the fresh durian to be exported is pest-free once both exporters and importers have secured all necessary permits and requirements.

The negotiations to gain market access in Egypt began in June 2023 after the Philippines formally expressed its intent to export fresh durian.

Since then, BPI said it has actively collaborated with Egypt’s Central Administration for Plant Quarantine, addressing key concerns related to pest surveillance, phytosanitary measures and export protocols.

The BPI said the opening of the Egyptian market is part of the efforts of the Department of Agriculture to diversify and expand the country’s agricultural exports.

Furthermore, Egypt serves as a strategic gateway to the Middle East and North Africa region, where demand for tropical fruits continues to grow, the BPI added.

The country’s agricultural exports to Egypt last year nearly doubled to $2.88 million from $1.46 million, driven by exponential growth in coconut-based exports, particularly desiccated coconut, according to Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).