The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is pushing for more innovation in the packaging of local products to bolster Philippine merchandise export performance.
“Philippine export is expected to grow steadily in the next few years. And all of these can be attributed to different innovations that Philippine manufacturing companies have engaged in. All of this can definitely continue by looking at innovative solutions for Philippine packaging,” said Dr. Jhino Ilano, assistant director of, the Export Marketing Bureau of the Department of Trade and Industry at the launch of PROPAK Philippines which is staging a comeback at the World Trade Center Metro Manila in Pasay City on 1-3 February 2023.
Asia’s biggest processing and packaging event, ProPak Philippines will highlight innovations and advancements in processing, manufacturing, and packaging technology, connecting international suppliers to local and regional buyers in the food, drink, and pharmaceutical industries.
For the first three quarters of the year, total merchandise exports posted 4.7% growth compared to the same period last year, from 55.69B USD to 58.31B USD, according to Ilano.
Merchandise exports from January to September 2017-2019 (average) were 52.56B USD or an increase of 11% versus the same period this year.
Electronics remains to be the top merchandise export with a 47.8% contribution to total exports from January to September this year, he said.
Coconut oil is an important aspect of the country’s export promotion, which registered a 29.9% growth or a value of 783M USD from January to September versus the same period last year.
Based on DTI figures, the US remains to be the top merchandise export market followed by Japan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, South Korea, Netherlands, Taiwan and Germany.
“As you may be aware the export performance can actually be improved further as we propagate and improve packaging in the Philippines. When we improve packaging of different products, we can be at par with other produce that are available in the international market,” said Ilano.
He stressed the importance of innovative packaging that will address issues on sustainability and other environmental concerns. “In terms of how consumers have been buying or purchasing, they are really into the sustainable component into packaging and how products are being presented.”
Ilano emphasized the need for exhibitions like PROPAK Philippines that would hope to usher in innovative solutions for Philippine packaging.