Browse Data and Analysis

Bulgaria’s hotel, restaurant, and institutional (HRI) foodservice industry grew year-on-year by early 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic severely hit the industry and food service sales dropped significantly in 2020 and in early 2021. In 2021, despite some remaining anti-COVID measures, after a strong summer tourist season, the HRI sector started to rebound and registered up to 25 percent growth in certain categories over 2020.

On February 22, 2023, the Philippine Tariff Commission announced that it will commence a Comprehensive Review of the Most Favored Nation (MFN) Tariff Schedule, covering all products/tariff lines falling under Chapters 1 to 97 of Section 1611 of the CMTA, to set the MFN Tariff Schedule for 2024 to 2028.

This report provides the standard rules and regulations relevant to the administration of the Philippines' tariff-rate quotas, known locally as Minimum Access Volumes (MAV) and, when authorized, MAV Plus.

This report outlines the Philippine government requirements for the importation of rice, including significant developments since 2022, when the government generally stopped approving issuances of the Sanitary-Phytosanitary Import Clearance (SPSIC) import permit.

The Bulgarian organic market continued to expand in 2022 with an estimated annual growth of 3.2 percent compared to 2021. The main driver behind the growth was the strong consumer focus on a healthier lifestyle and the perception that organic products are healthy and higher quality compared to conventional products.

On January 13, 2023, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. signed Executive Order (EO) 13, series of 2023, extending 5 percent tariffs for mechanically deboned or separated poultry (chicken and turkey) imports through December 31, 2024. The EO was published on January 20, 2023 and takes effect immediately.

With one of the highest dog and cat ownership rates in Asia, the Philippines presents a growing opportunity for U.S. pet food. As pets became more popular household companions, especially during the pandemic, pet ownership and pet food sales have grown immensely over the past five years.

The Philippine government is currently studying higher ethanol blends in gasoline on a voluntary basis up to 20 percent (beyond the 10 percent mandate).

Aviation is responsible for more than two percent of all global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Most of this CO2 is emitted when fossil-fuel-derived jet fuel is combusted. Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is a key part of the aviation industry’s plan to reduce carbon emissions.

Malnutrition is still prevalent in the Philippines. Among 12.7 million school-aged children assessed in 2019, 13.2 percent were stunted or wasted. The School-Based Feeding Program is one intervention to address undernutrition of school children.

In a yet unpublished memo, the Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) re-authorized the issuances of sanitary and phytosanitary import permits for up to 21,060 metric tons (MT) of fresh yellow and red onions in a reported effort to stabilize...

FAS Manila forecasts 2023 pork production at 1 million MT, as commercial pork producers plan to raise larger pigs. Pork imports, meanwhile, are forecast at 600,000 MT in response to lower tariffs that have been extended through December 31, 2023.