Local kamote, singkamas, saba bananas reach Saudi Arabia market

First commercial shipment of Philippine-grown crops opens new export opportunities for local farmers and producers.

Kamote, singkamas, and saba bananas are making their way to another overseas market after the Philippines completed its first commercial shipment of the three crops to Saudi Arabia.

The Department of Agriculture recently led the send-off of a 17.2-metric-ton shipment bound for Jeddah, carrying 1,350 boxes of Cardava bananas, along with 50 boxes each of kamote and singkamas, with a total export value of around ₱800,000.

The export order stemmed from business discussions at the AGRA Middle East Exhibition 2024 in Dubai, where Philippine agricultural products were introduced to international buyers before leading to a commercial deal.

The shipment adds to the country’s efforts to diversify agricultural exports beyond traditional products, giving locally grown crops more opportunities to reach supermarket shelves overseas.

For farmers, every new export market creates another source of demand for their harvests, helping support incomes while generating work across farming, packing, transport, and logistics.

The DA said expanding overseas markets also is part of its strategy to reduce the country’s agricultural trade deficit, which has exceeded $11 billion (around ₱640 billion) annually in recent years.

While modest in size, the shipment shows that Philippine-grown crops commonly found in local markets can also compete abroad, creating new opportunities for Filipino producers as demand for fresh tropical produce continues to grow.

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