March 20, 2014

Philippine firm to export peking duck to Japan

Starting this month, Philippine's Davao-based export company, Maharlika Agro-Marine Ventures Corp., will be exporting 25-50 tonnes of peking duck every month to Japan.

Maharlika chair and chief executive officer (CEO) Vicente T. Lao, said they have signed a 12-month Sales Agreement Contract with Daigo Tsucho Co., Ltd. and Aono Fresh Meats Ltd., buyers and sole distributors of Maharlika peking duck products in Japan, at the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo, Japan last March 7.

This is the first time the Philippines has taken advantage of its bird-flu free status and a first for a Filipino company to export Philippine produced peking duck products to Japan.

Lao said Japan usually sources its peking duck products from the US or Europe but now they are looking for sources in Asia because the cost of shipping is cheaper. He said the industry is a good opportunity for Filipino companies to tap.

In order to familiarise with the customs and regulations of Japan, Lao said, they did a trial shipment earlier this year. He said they are exporting prime cuts like duck breasts and legs.

Locally, they are shipping around 15-20 tonnes to restaurants in Manila every month.

Maharlika is importing 3,000 breeder ducks from Cherry Valley, UK every month. These ducks are brought to the breeding farm and hatchery in Bukidnon. Day-old ducklings from the farm are then transported to growing farms in Manolo Fortrich and in Arakan Valley.

After 45 days, ducks are harvested and brought to their dressing plant in Tamugan, Davao City. Some of their products are whole duck, premium breast meat, boneless leg meat, bone in leg meat, wing, fillet, and dressed Peking duck. These products are blast frozen and vacuum packed and are ready for shipping.

Lao said their breeder peking ducks in Bukidnon outperformed its counterparts in the UK, because the ducks in Bukidnon are less stressed because of the two season weather in the Philippines compared to the four seasons weather in the UK. He said since the ducks are less stressed, they keep on laying eggs.