Philippine chicken exporters cashing in on Japanese demand

Cleared of the deadly avian flu, Philippine poultry exporters led by agribusiness firm San Miguel Foods have shipped to Japan a 20-cubic foot container van filled with frozen deboned chicken fillet and other choice cuts, according to Philippine Poultry Exporters Board chair Ruben Pascual.


"For the next three months, there will be a deluge in demand in Japan and we hope to take advantage of this opportunity," Pascual said.


He said other accredited member-companies from the Philippine Association of Broiler Integrators (Pabi), like RFM Swift Foods, Tyson Agro Ventures, Universal Robina and Vitarich Corp, are bullish on their export prospects in Japan, which requires 100,000 metric tons of chicken a year.


After learning that Philippine poultry is free of the H5N1 - the lethal avian flu strain - Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry gave the go-signal for Philippine companies to export chicken products.


Local companies are now upgrading their facilities to cope with the anticipated huge demand in the coming years, Pascual said.


Philippine poultry exporters are now seeking similar accreditations from Hong Kong and South Korean authorities.


Pascual also said that local companies may soon export to Middle Eastern countries as companies are working on their Halal accreditation. (sa)