THE Philippines is now officially authorized to ship locally-grown Hass avocados to Japan, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.

The request for approval took 13 years before finally being signed this month. The first shipment consisted of 2,240 boxes of Hass avocados valued at $40,320. For 2025, the Philippines plans to deliver 88,000 boxes amounting to $1.58 million.

The Hass avocado — first grown and sold by Southern California mail carrier and amateur horticulturist Rudolph Hass, who also gave it his name — is said to be preferred by the Japanese. It is higher in fat than other varieties, which gives the fruit a richer taste and smoother, creamier texture. Some 80 percent of avocados consumed worldwide are of the Hass variety.

"We are optimistic this will lead to opportunities in other international markets for locally-grown Hass avocados," Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said, adding that this aligns with the DA's goal of expanding the country's agricultural exports and high-quality farm produce.

Hass avocados are the Philippines' third fruit export to Japan, next to bananas and pineapples. The DA's Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) helped facilitate the first shipment made by Dole Philippines Inc. and Tropix Fruit Co., which sourced the avocados from Mindanao.

In 2023, Japan imported 61,000 metric tons (MT) of the fruit valued at $160 million, making it a major importer of Hass avocados. Its key suppliers include Mexico, Peru, Australia, New Zealand and the United States.

"We are proud the Philippines is the first country in Asia to export Hass avocados to Japan," Tokyo-based Agriculture Attaché Aleli Maghirang said, noting the trade partnership between the two countries provides local producers an opportunity to capitalize on Japan's growing demand for fresh fruits.

"Securing access to Japan's highly competitive market for Hass avocados is a significant step forward in our trade relations with Japan," DA-BPI Director Glenn Panganiban said, adding that the latest export access is the culmination of over a decade of effort, with initial requests made in 2011.

The DA said the latest development coincided with the country's growing agricultural exports to Japan. In 2023, the Philippines exported $1.1 billion worth of agri-fishery products to Japan, earning a trade surplus of $990 million.

The addition of Hass avocados further strengthens the Philippines' position as a key supplier of high-quality fruits to Japan, a market renowned for its discerning consumers.

The global market for Hass avocados is projected to reach $18 billion in 2025.