Spanish Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Luis Planas met in Manila with Philippine Secretary of Agriculture Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. The two sides discussed further cooperation in agriculture, livestock production, fisheries and food, as well as the development of bilateral trade.
The meeting took place following the reopening of the Philippine market to Spanish pork from ASF-free areas.
Luis Planas thanked the Philippine government for its cooperation in resuming imports of Spanish pork on 22 May. This became possible through the application of the regionalisation principle in response to ASF, allowing exports to continue from areas of Spain where the disease is not circulating.
The decision is particularly important for Spain’s pig sector, as the Philippines is the third-largest export market by volume for Spanish pork. The country accounts for around 14% of total exports.
Spain is also the second-largest supplier of pork to the Philippines, behind only Brazil.
Spanish establishments have been authorised to export pork to the Philippine market since 2013. By 2025, 175 establishments held the relevant authorisation.
In 2025, Spanish pork exports to the Philippines were worth €86.78 million. Pork was Spain’s third-largest agri-food export to the market by value, after alcoholic beverages and offal.
During the meeting, representatives of Spain and the Philippines also discussed new opportunities for cooperation in agriculture, livestock production, fisheries and the food industry.
Priority areas include modernisation, digitalisation, productivity improvements and adaptation to climate change.
Spain and the Philippines have cooperated in these areas under a Memorandum of Understanding on agriculture and fisheries in force since 2007.
Overall, in 2025 Spain exported €577.07 million worth of agri-food products to the Philippines, while imports from the country totalled €258.59 million. This resulted in a positive trade balance of €318.48 million for Spain.
PigUA.info, based on materials from 3tres3.com