UK pork exporters expect to increase their shipments to the Philippines next year, the British Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines said Monday.
“Imports are consistently coming all the time. So far this year, we’re up 28,000 tons in September. Obviously, we expect continuing growth in 2023. We’ll have more up-to-date figures after year-end 2022,” said BCCP executive director Chris Nelson.
He said more pork shipments arrived in months leading to Christmas as local demand for pork grew steadily following the full opening of food establishments.
Data showed that in the first three quarters of 2022, pork imports from the UK went up by 41 percent to 238,000 metric tons.
The UK-Philippine pork shipments have increased fourfold since 2020. The UK exported almost 38 million pounds worth of pork to the Philippines in 2021.
The BCCP expressed optimism the Philippine government would agree to the extension of lower tariff on imported pork, which it sees as a win-win solution for both countries.
The chamber noted that British pork exports to the Philippines support food stability and put pork inflation in check.
The BCCP also provides support to new UK firms seeking entry into the Philippines―from food and beverage, healthcare to manufacturing and trade.
The chamber expressed support for the enactment of the amendments to the Retail Trade Liberalization Act, Foreign Investment Act and Public Service Act.
British investors are looking forward to the wider opening of the Philippine market, improving the ease of doing business, promoting the country as an investment destination and ratifying the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.