DAVAO CITY - Davao Region continues to lead durian production in the country, with 1.3 million trees planted on 16,600 hectares yielding 78,800 metric tons (MT) in 2023, according to the Durian Industry Association of Davao City President Emmanuel Belviz. Speaking at the National Durian Summit here, Department of Agriculture (DA) 11 (Davao Region) Director Macario Gonzaga underscored durian's export potential, stating, 'We must ensure our durian meets the highest standards of quality and food safety.' The two-day summit, attended by 300 participants, covered market expansion, farm practices, and business linkages. During the plenary session, Belviz said the Philippines ranks as the fourth durian-exporting country with a global market share of 0.306 percent. Last year, the Philippines exported 4,971 MT of fresh durian valued at USD12.2 million to countries like China, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Qatar, the United States, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Norway. At least 89 percent of the e xports go to China. "Given the increasing export demand for Philippine durian, particularly in China, we must seize this moment by ensuring that our durian meets the highest standards of quality and food safety, while also being competitive with our neighbors in the association of Southeast Asian nations," Gonzaga said. Source: Philippines News agency