The Department of Trade and Industry said the Philippines regained its position as the world’s second-largest exporter of bananas in 2025, following a sharp rebound in shipments last year.

The country exported 2.925 million metric tons of bananas to various global markets in 2025, marking a 26 percent year-on-year increase.

The strong performance allowed the Philippines to overtake Colombia and widen its lead over Costa Rica and Guatemala, based on preliminary data from the Food and Agriculture Organization.

The latest figures restored the country’s 2020 ranking and reversed the decline in export volumes recorded from 2021 to 2024, when the sector was hit by pest infestations and adverse weather conditions that constrained production and trade.

Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina Roque said the renewed global standing reflects both the resilience of the banana industry and the impact of sustained government policy support.

“Reclaiming second place globally underscores the resilience of our farmers and the strength of our trade strategy. With this, the DTI remains committed to sustaining this momentum through industry upgrading, investment promotion, and deeper integration into global value chains to strengthen the sector’s long-term competitiveness. Through our different programs, we continue to support the banana industry alongside other agricultural products to make them export-ready,” she added.

The DTI said key drivers of export growth included the strategic use of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the Philippines-South Korea Free Trade Agreement, which lowered or eliminated tariffs and gave Philippine bananas a price advantage in key Asian markets.

Roque said the agency is also working to replicate this success for other high-value agricultural products, including mangoes and ube.

The DTI’s Export Marketing Bureau is conducting “Doing Business in Free Trade Areas” seminars to help farmers maximize the use of Certificates of Origin for zero-tariff market access.

The bureau has also expanded support for the sector through the issuance of Export-Oriented Enterprise certifications to qualified banana exporters.

According to the DTI, these certifications allow exporters to source production inputs at more competitive prices, lowering overall costs and improving product quality, which helps strengthen the global competitiveness of Philippine bananas and sustain the industry’s export rebound.

The DTI said the banana sector’s renewed global standing has a significant economic impact, as it remains a major source of rural employment and foreign exchange earnings.

“By restoring its competitiveness on the world stage, the Philippines strengthens rural livelihoods and reinforces the Philippines’ credibility as a reliable agricultural exporter,” Roque said.