PHL exhibitors book $29 million in food exports at Paris trade show

THE Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) said Philippine participants at the Salon International de l’Alimentation (SIAL) Paris 2024 booked $29 million worth of sales.

“This year’s Philippine participation generated total sales that increased by more than 11% from  2022,” CITEM said in a statement Thursday.

“In addition, trade inquiries and buyer attendance more than doubled from previous turnout — registering 751 and 768, respectively,” it added.

SIAL, which was held between Oct. 19 and 23 at Parc des Expositions de Villepinte in Paris, was attended by Philippine exhibitors of banana, calamansi, coconut, mango, and ube products, among others.

Among the top-selling products at the Philippine Pavilion at SIAL were seafood items, which CITEM said accounted for nearly $12 million in orders from the fair.

In a separate statement, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said Bicol-based pili nut companies performed well at SIAL.

The four pili nut companies — Pili Crush Enterprises; C.O.P. Pili Sweets and Pastries; Phenomenon Group, Inc., and The Rains Delicacies — generated $653,970 in sales during the event.

“Given the rising trend towards health-conscious products and organic foods, pili nuts, being high in essential nutrients, fit well within this trend,” the DTI said. — Justine Irish D. Tabile