MANILA— Taiwan sees greater growth potential for its processed pork products, including sausages and pork jerky, in the Philippines than for frozen pork shipments, as limited export supply and relatively high prices constrain its ability to compete in the local market, an industry official said.

Jennifer Chang, Vice President of the Commerce Development Research Institute (CDRI), said the volume of Taiwanese pork available for export remains limited, making a substantial increase in frozen pork shipments to the Philippines unlikely in the near term.

“Based on CDRI’s observations and research, we do not expect Taiwan’s frozen pork exports to the Philippines to increase much, as the volume available for export is limited. However, Taiwanese pork is of very high quality, and we see growth potential for processed pork products, such as sausages and pork jerky,” Chang said in an interview on the sidelines of Taiwan Pork 2026.

Chang said the Philippine market offers opportunities for Taiwanese food products, although price and supply remain major considerations for pork imports.

“The Philippine market is large, but price and supply are the main considerations. Taiwanese pork is relatively expensive, and Taiwan does not have a large volume available for export. For these reasons, I expect frozen Taiwanese pork to account for only a small share of the market,” she said.

She added that Taiwanese food served in restaurants, including sausages and noodles, could find opportunities in the Philippines, where other Taiwanese products such as bubble tea have gained popularity.

Chang also expressed a cautious outlook for the start of large-scale commercial shipments of Taiwanese pork, saying significant volumes of frozen or chilled pork were unlikely to arrive soon.

“For larger volumes of frozen or chilled pork, I do not expect this to happen quickly. In my view, the prospect is limited in the short term, including over the next three years,” she said.

On efforts to expand trade ties, Chang said CDRI is currently focused on facilitating cooperation between private businesses in Taiwan and the Philippines.

She noted that the Philippine government has already approved imports of Taiwanese pork, leaving companies on both sides to work out commercial arrangements.

“The Philippine government has already approved imports of Taiwanese pork, so the next step is for companies on both sides to work out the commercial arrangements. CDRI’s role is to help businesses bring quality Taiwanese pork products to the Philippine market,” Chang said.

Asked whether Taiwan was seeking regionalization recognition for African swine fever (ASF), which could limit import restrictions to affected areas rather than an entire country, Chang said she was not aware of any application.

“To my knowledge, no application has been made. Our priority is disease prevention across Taiwan as a whole. We want all of Taiwan to be safe, so that buyers can have confidence in Taiwanese pork,” she said.

Beyond the pork industry, Chang said she sees the Philippines as a promising destination for Taiwanese investments in other sectors, including electronics, energy and logistics.

“Yes. I believe the Philippines is a market worth investing in. It has continued to improve over the years and has great potential. Beyond food, I believe Taiwanese businesses will also consider investment opportunities in other sectors,” she said.