After successfully breaking into the Chinese market, fresh durian from the Philippines has now received official access for export into Egypt, as stated by the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI).
Flor De Hasmin Bayo, officer-in-charge of Plant Quarantine Service at the Port of Davao (PQS-Davao), confirmed during an interview that Philippine durians have been approved for entry into the Egyptian market.
“There is no schedule for shipment yet, as the durian season is typically in July and August.
However, it is good to hear that we are approved to send our durian to Egypt,” Bayo said.
To facilitate shipments, Philippine exporters should liaise with Egyptian importers in securing an import permit through the Egyptian Agricultural Quarantine Authority’s electronic system.
Bayo noted that all phytosanitary requirements were duly complied with, and thereafter, the phytosanitary certificate would be issued by DA-BPI, indicating that the fruit is pest-free. Shipments would proceed only on the complete fulfilment of these processes.
According to Fructidor.com, Philippine durian was finally cleared for export to Egypt after nearly two years of technical reviews and bilateral coordination that took place from May 18 onward. The process of market access started in June 2023 after the Philippines formally submitted a request.
Since then, both countries have engaged in pest risk assessments, phytosanitary standards compliance, and export procedures in collaboration with Egypt’s Central Administration for Plant Quarantine.
The entry of this new market comes in light of increasing international demand for Philippine durian. In 2024, the country exported 14,156.87 metric tons of the fruit, which is a staggering increase of 199.23% over 2023.
