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The Philippines’ domestic trade reached 16.05 million tons amounting to P1.230 trillion in the first quarter of 2025
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Of the total volume, 50.9% was traded through water transport, followed by road transport with 49.1%, and air transport with 0.03%
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Value-wise, 59.9% were from commodities traded through road transport, followed by water transport with 40.1%, and air transport with 0.04%
The Philippines’ domestic trade reached 16.05 million tons amounting to P1.230 trillion in the first quarter of 2025, based on preliminary data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
PSA noted that the latest preliminary report is the first that includes movement of commodities through road transport; previous reports only included movement through water and air. Thus, the 9.78 million tons recorded in the first quarter of 2024 is not comparable to this year’s first-quarter figure.
Of the latest volume total, 50.9% was traded through water transport, 49.1% through road transport, and 0.03% air transport.
Water-borne domestic trade reached 8.17 million tons, representing a year-on-year decline of 16.3% from 9.77 million tons.
Commodities traded by air reached 5,424.8 tons, down 46.2% year-on-year.
The volume of commodities traded by road hit 7.88 million tons.
Value-wise, commodities transported through roads amounted to P736.77 billion, accounting for the bulk or 59.9% of the domestic trade.
Water transport followed with 40.1% of the total reaching P492.79 billion, 2.7% higher than P479.92 billion posted in the same period in 2024.
Commodities traded by air was valued at P0.47 billion, up 23.6% year-on-year, representing a 0.04% share.
Across regions, CALABARZON registered the highest outflow volume of traded commodities with 2.86 million tons or 17.8% of the total volume. This was followed by Davao Region with 2.36 million tons (14.7%) and National Capital Region (NCR) with 2.18 million tons (13.6%).
NCR posted the highest inflow volume of 2.45 million tons or 15.2% of the total, followed by SOCCSKSARGEN with 2.32 million tons (14.5%) and CALABARZON with 1.51 million tons (9.4%).
The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), on the other hand, recorded the lowest inflow volume of 0.04 million tons (0.2%) during the first quarter of 2025.
The top three regions with favorable domestic trade balances in terms of volume were CALABARZON, Davao Region, and Northern Mindanao.
In terms of value, Northern Mindanao recorded the highest outflow amounting to P325.78 billion or 26.5% of the total. This was followed by CALABARZON with P219.81 billion (17.9%) and NCR with P151.95 billion (12.4%) worth of traded commodities.
For inflow value, CALABARZON topped the regions with P213.39 billion or a 17.3% share to the total. NCR was next with P176.59 billion (14.4%) then SOCCSKSARGEN with P135.34 billion (11%). BARMM again recorded the lowest inflow value of P2.13 billion (0.2%) during the first quarter.
Northern Mindanao, Bicol Region, and Davao Region posted the most favorable trade balances in terms of value in the first quarter, while SOCCSKSARGEN, Zamboanga Peninsula, and Caraga were the top three regions with negative trade balances during the period. – Roumina Pablo
