July 29, 2004

Japan Imports Chicken From Philippines

Government-owned Philippine International Trading Corp. (PITC) recently completed shipment of some 5 million Peso worth of frozen chicken to Japan through Nissho Iwai Meat and Agri-Products Corp., a leading Japanese importer and distributor of agro-based products, PITC president and chief executive officer Anthony Abad said.

The shipments were made this month by Swift Foods' Cagayan de Oro plant and San Miguel-Purefoods' San Fernando, Pampanga, plant, Abad said.

Succeeding orders from Japan for frozen chicken are expected to amount to $120,000 per month, he said.

Abad said the deliveries made through Nissho Iwai followed several months of negotiations that started in November 2003 and were initiated by PITC independent marketing representative to Japan, Masaaki Hirata.

He said Japanese buyers were encouraged to buy some of their chicken requirements from the Philippines in view of the bird flu scare in 2003.

In the past, Nissho Iwai imported its supply from China, Malaysia, Thailand, United States and Brazil, Abad said.

He said PITC was hoping to gain considerable exposure for Philippine food products not only in Japan but also in neighboring Asian countries.