Dried shelled legumes market in the Philippines

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2023, the market volume for dried shelled legumes in the Philippines fluctuated between 218 thousand tons and 241 thousand tons. Government interventions and research programs in the vegetable sector, focusing on disease improvement and postharvest handling, helped stabilize production and supply. The expansion of supermarket chains into provincial areas also shifted retail channels, affecting product accessibility for consumers.

The COVID-19 pandemic altered supply chains and consumer behavior. In 2020, oversupply issues in the Cordillera vegetable belt led to market saturation and price drops, which may have temporarily boosted consumption. However, competition from lower-priced imported legume products, partly due to reduced tariff rates, pressured local producers and contributed to the contraction in import volumes and overall market size in 2021.

A rising consumer trend toward plant-based foods, driven by health and sustainability concerns, became a key market driver from 2022 onward. This shift was supported by the Philippine Vegetable Industry Roadmap 2021-2025, which aimed to strengthen production and marketing. Although inflation and higher food prices in 2023 led to a market volume decrease, the long-term growth in demand for plant-based protein sources continued to shape the market's dynamics.

Production dried shelled legumes in the Philippines

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of dried shelled legumes, 2017-2020

World map of production of dried shelled legumes, 2017-2020

In 2019, the Philippines produced 136,867 tonnes of dried shelled legumes, which was the lowest level recorded during this period. Production increased slightly in 2020 to 137,616 tonnes, remaining almost flat year-over-year. The highest production was recorded in 2018 at 138,005 tonnes. The largest decline occurred in 2019, when production fell by 0.8%.

Annual dynamics of production in the Philippines in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports dried shelled legumes from the Philippines

Exports in kind, K t

The market exhibited an unstable trend throughout the timeframe. In 2018, exports bottomed at 0.0 thousand tonnes, which was the minimum value recorded. Exports then peaked in 2019 at 0.3 thousand tonnes, representing a 110-fold difference from the previous year. In 2020, dried shelled legumes volumes leaving the Philippines reached 0.2 thousand tonnes, which is 53.7% less than in 2019. The largest decline was recorded in 2018 at 88.3%, while the largest increase occurred in 2019 with a staggering 10,941.1% growth.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from the Philippines in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, India, Australia, and the United States remained the principal buyers of dried shelled legumes from the Philippines. India accounted for 42.9% of exports in kind, Australia for 17.0%, and the United States for 16.2%. Together, these three countries represented 76.1% of total exports in kind.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from the Philippines in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

The market showed signs of volatility over the observed period. Exports in value terms reached their lowest point in 2018 at 7 thousand US dollars, then peaked in 2017, representing a 53-fold variation between these years. In 2020, dried shelled legumes volumes leaving the Philippines stood at 119 thousand US dollars, which is 47.8% less compared to the previous year. The largest decline was recorded in 2018 at 98.1%, while the largest increase occurred in 2019 with a 3,289.4% growth.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from the Philippines in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, three principal markets—Thailand, India, and Vietnam—together accounted for 74.4% of total exports in value terms of dried shelled legumes from the Philippines.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from the Philippines in value, 2017-2020

Imports dried shelled legumes to the Philippines

Imports in kind, K t

In 2019, the Philippines imported 81.2 thousand tonnes of dried shelled legumes, which was the minimum value recorded during this period. Imports then increased in 2020 to a total of value_last_year thousand tonnes, equivalent to a substantial advance of 24.1% compared to the previous year. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 103.3 thousand tonnes. The largest decline occurred in 2019, when imports fell by 21.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to the Philippines in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Throughout 2017 to 2020, Canada, the United States, and Myanmar played the leading roles in imports in kind of dried shelled legumes to the Philippines. Canada accounted for 31.9% of imports in kind, the United States for 21.2%, and Myanmar for 14.0%. Together, these three countries took 67.0% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to the Philippines in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

Imported dried shelled legumes volumes in the Philippines increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports totalled 77,531 thousand US dollars, which is 17.6% higher versus the previous year. Over the period 2017-2020, imports increased by 48.4%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to the Philippines in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, Canada, Myanmar, and Indonesia were the primary suppliers of dried shelled legumes to the Philippines in value terms. Canada accounted for 22.1% of imports in value terms, Myanmar for 20.9%, and Indonesia for 16.9%. Together, these three countries accounted for 60.0% of total imports in value terms.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to the Philippines in value, 2017-2020