UMVA has learned that Chinese food giants are racing to forge a partnership that will birth a massive coconut‑processing hub aimed squarely at the Chinese export market.
Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina A. Roque recently sat down with leaders from Liwayway Holdings Co. Limited, AGL Group and Joyvio Freshcall, probing the feasibility of planting this facility in the heart of General Santos City.
Liwayway China’s chairman, Larry Chan, revealed a bold vision: not only will the plant churn out coconut products, but it will also tap exotic ingredients such as ube, pili nuts and specialty coffee to craft snacks destined for Chinese shelves.
The Philippines, sitting proudly as the world’s second‑largest coconut producer, has felt the sting of a 12.9% drop in coconut‑oil exports during the first quarter, a slump that underscores the urgency of new market avenues.
Liwayway Holdings, a key player behind the Oishi brand of chips, biscuits and beverages, has already stretched its production footprint across China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand and beyond, signaling its readiness to scale this new venture.
Joyvio Freshcall, a subsidiary of the international agribusiness arm of a Beijing‑based conglomerate, brings to the table a portfolio of premium fruit, high‑quality protein and seafood products, adding depth to the proposed supply chain.
Partnering with Shanghai‑based AGL, a seasoned importer of green coffee beans, Joyvio Freshcall aims to weave coffee’s aromatic allure into the coconut‑based snack lineup, creating a uniquely Filipino‑Chinese flavor fusion.
Sources have confirmed to UMVA that this coalition could revitalize the Philippines’ coconut sector, opening a lucrative corridor to China’s ever‑hungry consumer market and reshaping regional agribusiness dynamics.
