21/07/2026
The humble saba banana is carving out a bigger place on the global stage after securing a second export shipment to New Zealand, signaling rising overseas demand for the native Philippine crop.
Davao City-based AVANTE Agri-Products Philippines Inc. recently shipped a 40-foot refrigerated container carrying 1,400 boxes of export-quality fresh saba bananas to Auckland after the successful arrival of its maiden shipment earlier this year.
The repeat order points to growing buyer confidence and opens the door to regular exports to New Zealand, expanding market opportunities for Philippine-grown saba bananas.
The export-quality fruit was sourced from accredited farms in Davao del Norte and processed in a certified packing facility that complies with New Zealand's food safety and plant quarantine standards.
Higher export demand could create more jobs across the agricultural value chain, from farming and packing to logistics, transport, and export operations, while providing more stable income opportunities for banana growers in Mindanao.
The Department of Agriculture said expanding exports of native crops like saba bananas could help diversify the country's agricultural exports beyond traditional products and destinations.
The Philippines is one of the world's largest banana exporters, although exports have historically been dominated by Cavendish bananas, making the growing overseas demand for saba bananas another step toward expanding the country's agricultural export portfolio.
βπ» John Lloyd Aleta
