Jakarta: Indonesia has secured potential food and beverage deals worth USD2.22 million at the Manila Food and Beverage Expo (MAFBEX) 2025, underscoring the Philippines' keen interest in Indonesian products. This development highlights a promising export opportunity for Indonesia's micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

According to Philippines News Agency, Martin Pandapotan Hutabarat, the trade attach© at the Indonesian Embassy in Manila, emphasized in a written statement that these potential transactions reflect the Philippine market's robust interest in Indonesian food and beverage products. This enthusiasm can be leveraged to tap into new export opportunities.

The Indonesian Pavilion at MAFBEX showcased a diverse array of products from 10 companies, including eight MSMEs. The offerings ranged from coffee, tea, honey, and chocolates to biscuits, healthy snacks, and processed goods like sorghum, flour, rice, and starch. In addition to the potential deals, participating MSMEs recorded USD1,445 in retail sales during the expo.

Over the last five years, from 2020 to 2024, Indonesia's food and beverage exports to the Philippines have grown by 18.34 percent, making them the third-largest Indonesian exports to the country. Moreover, Indonesia stands as the second-largest exporter of coffee beans to the Philippines, trailing only Vietnam. In 2024, Indonesia exported USD43.48 million worth of coffee beans to the Philippines, while Vietnam led with USD153.92 million.

Indonesia also sees strong potential in the Philippines' burgeoning health food market. According to Data Bridge Market Research 2022, the Philippines' health and wellness food market is projected to grow from USD20.98 billion in 2024 to USD42.70 billion by 2032, with a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.03 percent between 2025 and 2032. This positive outlook presents significant opportunities for Indonesian MSMEs producing health-focused products to expand their reach in international markets.