MILKFISH: COMMODITY

PROFILE
A. Commodity Description
Milkfish (Chanos chanos) locally known
as bangus is the sole living species in the
family Chanidae. It is considered as the
backbone of the Philippine aquaculture
industry. It contributes significantly to the
countrys
overall
aquaculture
fish
production.
Milkfish has a generally symmetrical and
streamlined appearance, with a sizeable forked caudal fin. It can grow to 1.7 meters
(6 ft.) but is most often about 1 meter (39 in.) in length. It has no teeth and generally
feeds on algae and invertebrates. Among the fresh fish food groups, bangus
production ranks third to tuna and round scad.
Milkfish aquaculture first occurred about 600 years ago in Indonesia and spread to
the Philippines, Taiwan and into the Pacific. Traditional milkfish aquaculture relied
upon restocking ponds by collecting wild fry. This leads to a wide range of variability
in quality and quantity between seasons and regions. In the late seventies, farmers
first successfully spawned breeding fish. However, breeding fish were hard to
obtain and produced unreliable egg viability. In 1980 the first spontaneously
spawning happened in sea cages. Eggs from sea cages were found to be sufficient
to generate constant supply for farms.
B. Uses

Mainly consumed as food and good source of protein

Processed into sardines, smoked fish, marinated deboned bangus and
fishballs sold in both the local and international markets;
Used as a feed ingredient

C. Investment Opportunities

Expansion of production areas and intensification of culture

Establishment of hatcheries
Bangus processing
Establishment of laying centers and cold storage facilities in major
producing areas

D. Volume of Production
In 2009, 356,935 metric tons of milkfish were produced in the country. On the
average, milkfish production for the five (5) year period (2005-2009) increased
5.45% per year. Aquaculture subsector contributed 98.83% while production from
inland fishing recorded only 1.17% of the total production.

A slight decrease of milkfish production equal to 0.93% from aquaculture was noted
in 2009. On the other hand, a remarkable increase of 151.61% was registered from
inland fishing for the same year.
Bulk of the production came from Pangasinan, Bulacan, Iloilo, Capiz, and Rizal in
2009. By regions, Western Visayas ranked first followed by Ilocos Region. Third
and fourth were Central Luzon and Calabarzon, respectively.
Production related problems were bad weather, natural calamities and high cost of
fertilizers.
E. Average Production Costs & Returns Per Hectare, Per Cropping
Across all major producing provinces; Pangasinan, Bulacan, Iloilo and Capiz, the
average cost of producing milkfish was P28,096 per hectare per cropping. Cash
expenses accounted for 75.75% of all costs while non-cash and imputed costs
shared 1.53% and 22.72%, respectively.
Net returns above cash costs, non cash costs plus imputed cost, averaged P24,
602 per hectare. On a per kilogram basis, cost of milkfish production averaged
P31.17. Operators netted P0.88 for every peso invested in milkfish production
(annex 1).
F. Prices
Wholesale and retail prices for milkfish from 2005-2009 continuously increased.
Average increases of P5.94 and P6.75 per kilo per year were experienced for
wholesale and retail prices, respectively. An increase of 9.81% was recorded in
2009 for wholesale price while 9.00% was posted for retail price.
G. Trade/Marketing
Milkfish is sold at the local and export markets. Locally, processor, wholesaler,
wholesaler-retailers, and agents were the market outlets.
Major markets of Philippine milkfish are USA, Canada, UK, Korea and Australia.
Various product forms of milkfish are exported to these countries. In 2009, for the
top five (5) forms and kind of milkfish (see annex 6 to 10) USA was the major
market exhibiting 75.40% of the total exports. Canada ranked 2nd with 12.33%, UK
with 2.07%, Korea with 1.91% and Australia with 1.64% of the total exports.
In terms of value, the Philippine total exports accounted for US$40.8 Million FOB.
The highest value received was during 2009 equal to 36.98% and the lowest,
6.79% was posted in 2005. Average increase of the exports value for the period
under review was 53.43% per year.
Low and unstable price of milkfish, rough roads and high transport costs, lack of
marketing information constrained the industrys operation.

STATISTICAL TABLES AND GRAPHS

Table 1. Volume of Production, Philippines, 2005-2009 (in Metric Tons)

2009

%
Change
(20082009)

%
Contribution

289,153 315,075 349,741 350,837 347,588

637
3,589
2,261
3,714
9,347
289,790 318,664 352,002 354,551 356,935

-0.93
151.67
0.67

98.83
1.17
100

2005
Aquaculture
Inland
Total

2006

2007

2008

Source: Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS), Fisheries Statistics of the Philippines, 2005-2009

Table 2. Top Five (5), Major Producing Provinces, 2009

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Province
Pangasinan
Bulacan
Iloilo
Capiz
Rizal

Volume (MT)
69,743
29,729
24,740
23,029
20,094

Source: Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS), Fisheries

Statistics of the Philippines, 2005-2009

Table 3. Top Five (5), Major Producing Regions, 2009

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Region
Western Visayas
Ilocos Region
Central Luzon
CALABARZON
Davao Region

Volume (MT)
77,578
72,637
61,409
47,579
22,143

Source: Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS), Fisheries

Statistics of the Philippines, 2005-2009

Table 4. Prices (Pesos Per Kilogram)

Wholesale
Retail

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

69.82
87.36

73.5
89.59

75.45
96.46

85.22
104.93

93.58
114.37

% Change
(2008-2009)
9.81
9.00

Source: Agricultural Marketing Statistics Analysis Division (AMSAD), BAS

Table 5. MILKFISH: Supply and Utilization Accounts, Philippines, 2005-2009

(In Metric Tons)
SUPPLY

UTILIZATION
Net Food Disposable

Y
e
a
r

Production

Imports

Gross
Supply

Exports

Feeds
&
Waste

Per Capita
Processing

2005
289,790
12
289,801
611
8,694
92,732
2006
318,664
63
318,727
1,189
9,560
101,972
2007
352,002
33
352,035
1,531 10,560
112,641
2008
354,551
7
354,558
1,678 10,637
113,456
2009P
356,935
233
357,168
2,623 10,705
114,187
Source: Agricultural Marketing Statistics Analysis Division (AMSAD), BAS
P Preliminary

Total

187,764
206,006
227,303
228,787
229,653

Per
Capit
a
kg/yr

Per
Capita
gm/day

2.2
2.37
2.57
2.53
2.48

6.03
6.49
7.04
6.93
6.82

Annex 1

Milkfish Production: Aquaculture

Philippines 2005-2009

Metric Tons

400,000
350,000
300,000
250,000
200,000
Aquaculture

150,000
100,000
50,000
0
2005

2006

2007
Year

Annex 2

2008

2009

Milkfish Production: Inland

Philippines 2005-2009
10000

Metric Tons

9000
8000
7000
6000
5000
4000

Inland

3000
2000
1000
0
2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Year

Annex 3

MAJOR MILKFISH PRODUCING PROVINCES, 2009

Pangasinan, 19.54%

Bulacan, 8.33%

Iloilo, 6.93%

Others, 53.12%

Capiz , 6.45%
Rizal, 5.63%

Annex 4

MAJOR MILKFISH PRODUCING REGIONS, 2009

Wes tern Vis ayas ,

21.73%

Others, 21.19%

Davao Region,
6.20%

Ilocos Region,
20.35%

CALABARZON, 13.33%
Central Luzon, 17.20%

Annex 5

PRICE OF MILKFISH, PHILIPPINES

2005-2009
140
120

Retail

P/Kg.

100

Wholesale

80

Wholesale
Retail

60
40
20
0
2005

2006

2007
Year

2008

2009

Annex 6

TOP FIVE (5) MAJOR COUNTRY OF DESTINATION

MILKFISH BANGUS, EXCLUDING LIVERS AND ROES, FROZEN
2009 TOTAL PHILIPPINE EXPORTS (ALL KINDS) = 4,265,869 KG.

Korea, Republic Of
South, 1.75%
Uk Great Britain And N.
Ireland, 2.08%

Italy, 1.18%

Canada, 9.62%

United States Of
America, 44.25%

Annex 7

TOP FIVE (5) MAJOR COUNTRY OF DESTINATION

MILKFISH (BANGUS), IN AIRTIGHT CONTAINERS
2009 TOTAL PHILIPPINE EXPORTS (ALL KINDS) = 4,265,869 KG.
Haw aii, 0.77%
Australia, 1.32%

Guam, 0.52%

Canada, 2.66%

United States Of
America, 21.64%

Annex 8

TOP FIVE (5) MAJOR COUNTRY OF DESTINATION

MILKFISH (BANGUS), SMOKED, INCLUDING FILLET
2009 TOTAL PHILIPPINE EXPORTS (ALL KINDS) = 4,265,869 KG.
Singapore, 0.22%
Thailand, 0.25%

United Arab Emirates,

0.10%

Australia, 0.25%

United States Of
America, 8.71%

Annex 9
TOP FIVE (5) MAJOR COUNTRY OF DESTINATION MILKFISH FILLETS, DRIED,
SALTED OR NOT IN BRINE BUT NOT SMOKE 2009 TOTAL PHILIPPINE
EXPORTS (ALL KINDS) = 4,265,869

United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, 0.01%

0.04%

Hongkong, 0.003%

Haw aii, 0.09%

United States Of
America, 0.67%

Annex 10

TOP FIVE (5) MAJOR COUNTRY OF DESTINATION

MILKFISH, FRESH OR CHILLED
2009 TOTALPHILIPPINE EXPORTS (ALL KINDS) = 4,265,869 KG.

United Arab Emirates,

0.03%
Haw aii, 0.06%

Korea, Republic Of
South, 0.16%

Guam, 0.11%

United States Of
America, 0.13%

Annex 11

PHILIPPINE MILKFISH EXPORTS BY KIND AND FORMS,

2009 TOTAL = 4,265,869 KG.

Milkfis h (Bangus ),
Sm oked, Inlcuding
Fillet
9.76%

Milkfis h (Bangus ), In
Airtight Containers
27.77%

Milkfis h Fillets , Dried,

Salted Or Not In Brine,
But Not Sm oked
0.81%

Milkfis h, Fres h Or
Chilled
0.51%

OTHERS
0.17%

Milkfis h (Bangus ),
Excluding Livers And
Roes , Frozen
60.98%

Annex 12

PHILIPPINE MILKFISH IMPORTS, BY KIND AND FORMS

2009 TOTAL = 2,881,557 KG.

Milkfish (Bangus),
Excluding Livers And
Roes, Frozen
4.13%
Milkfish Other Than For
Breeding, Live
37.07%

Milkfish For Breeding,

Live
58.80%