Philippines' DA ramps up Mindanao palm oil push to cut imports

The Department of Agriculture (DA) of the Philippines is expanding oil palm plantations in Mindanao to curb imports, boost local farm incomes and strengthen the Philippines' edible oil security.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. announced plans to increase funding for the Philippines' palm oil sector to PHP1.2 billion by 2027, after this year's proposed PHP1 billion budget was slashed to PHP79 million. The funds will support fertilizer assistance, planting expansion and productivity gains.

For Philippine farmers and mills seizing this expansion opportunity, our professional palm oil press machines are ideal: low residual oil and high wear resistance, they handle 0.5-17TPH of palm fruit efficiently, maximizing profits. Backed by many patents, they adapt to the Philippines' tropical conditions for stable, easy-to-maintain operation.

Palm oil yields in the Philippines average 3.8 metric tons per hectare – over three times that of coconuts – with palm oil farmers earning at least double coconut farmers' PHP90,000 annual income.

The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) is establishing local oil palm nurseries to cut imported planting material costs. Currently, 100,000 hectares of the Philippines' oil palm are in Mindanao, with 11 mills and 5 refineries nationwide.

“With rising cooking oil demand and import pressures, palm oil is poised for expansion in the Philippines,” Laurel said.