Dalilah Ghazalay, US Dairy Export Council regional director in Southeast Asia
BANGKOK, Thailand—Regardless of short-term market challenges, america expects sturdy dairy demand within the Philippines and Southeast Asia as a consequence of their younger inhabitants, rising incomes and optimistic financial outlook.
“Regardless that everybody was impacted by the inflation and the concerns of many different macro elements that affect the provision chain, the demand for dairy stays sturdy,” Dalilah Ghazalay, US Dairy Export Council’s (USDEC) regional director in Southeast Asia, advised the Inquirer in an interview.
Geopolitical tensions within the Center East, significantly the Israel-Iran battle, have led to vessel rerouting and route closures, considerably disrupting international provide chains, together with dairy shipments.
Nonetheless, Ghazalay mentioned these short-term market setbacks wouldn’t hamper the stream of dairy substances into the area, noting the sturdy demand for these commodities.
“I take into account them as short-term market setbacks for the time being. The market will right itself… typically as a result of there’s a want for dairy substances in Southeast Asia usually. It’s not going to cease the influx of imports,” Ghazalay mentioned.
“We’re optimistic concerning the basic improve of dairy substances … not simply within the Philippines particularly, however you see that pattern in Southeast Asia,” she added.
Ghazalay mentioned the projected gross home manufacturing development of 4.7 % in Southeast Asia this yr supported their optimistic view of dairy exports to the area.
She underscored the area’s younger and dynamic inhabitants, the rise in incomes, inhabitants development and the rising desire to include dairy into their food regimen.
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Commerce ties with United States
Within the case of the Philippines, Ghazalay mentioned the “very pleasant” commerce relations between each international locations in addition to Filipinos’ belief in US-approved meals merchandise ought to foster commerce and collaboration within the dairy business.
The US is the main supply of imported dairy in 2024, accounting for 30 % of the market, adopted by New Zealand with 20.7 % and Belgium with 4.8 %, knowledge from the Nationwide Dairy Authority confirmed.
Knowledge offered by the USDEC famous that dairy exports to Southeast Asia amounted to $1.02 billion in 2024, with the Philippines rising as the highest vacation spot of US dairy merchandise.
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America exported $364.48 million price of dairy merchandise to the archipelago up to now yr, equal to 138,776 MT.
Though the group didn’t present comparative knowledge, it mentioned US dairy shipments to the Philippines had grown by 48 % development between 2015 and 2024.
The US Division of Agriculture mentioned in its report final October that dairy imports had been projected to succeed in 3.1 million MT in liquid milk equal in 2025, up by 1.6 % from 3.05 million MT in 2024.
The Philippines is sort of solely depending on imports as native manufacturing can solely help round 1 % of its dairy necessities.
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