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The country’s trade deficit continued to decline in September 2025 as export growth remained strong during the period, according to preliminary data from the Philippine Statistics Authority
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Total external trade in goods grew for the ninth straight month this year, recording a 7% increment to $18.86 billion
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Exports rose 15.9% to $7.25 billion while imports advanced 2.1% to $11.60 billion
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Electronic products remained the country’s top import and export commodity
The Philippines’ trade deficit continued to decline in September 2025 as export growth remained strong during the period, according to preliminary data from the Philippine Statistics Authority.
The balance of trade in goods in September amounted to $4.35 billion, indicating a trade deficit with an annual decline of 14.7%.
Total external trade in goods, meanwhile, grew for the ninth straight month this year, recording a 7% increment to $18.86 billion from $17.62 billion in the same period last year.
Exports likewise improved for the ninth consecutive month, posting a 15.9% growth to $7.25 billion from $6.26 billion in the same month of the previous year.
From January to September, exports reached $63.02 billion, 13.1% higher than the $55.71 billion recorded in the same period last year.
Imports, which accounted for 61.5% of total trade in September, recovered with a 2.1% year-on-year increase to $11.60 billion after a slight decline in August 2025.
For the first nine months of the year, imports rose 5.3% to $100.19 billion from $95.14 billion in the same period last year.
By commodity group, electronic products remained the country’s top import and export, earning $4.02 billion or 55.5% of the total exports and $3.05 billion representing 26.3% of total imports.
Other top imports during the period were mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials ($1.28 billion), and transport equipment ($1.15 billion), while top exports also include other mineral products ($413.79 million), and other manufactured goods ($375.10 million).
By major type of goods, imports of raw materials and intermediate goods led with $4.13 billion or a share of 35.6%, followed by capital goods with $3.77 billion, and consumer goods with $2.38 billion.
In terms of exports, manufactured goods contributed the largest to total with $5.74 billion or a share of 79.2%. This was followed by mineral products with $703.68 million, and total agro-based products with $635.33 million.
By trading partners, China remains the country’s top import supplier, accounting for $3.29 billion or 28.4% of the country’s total imports in September 2025.
The four other top import sources during the period were South Korea ($1.06 billion), Japan ($935.07 million), Indonesia ($821.42 million), and the U.S. ($728.88 million).
Exports to the U.S., meanwhile, comprised the highest export value of $1.11 billion or a share of 15.3% to the country’s total exports in September 2025. It was followed by Hong Kong ($1.10 billion), China ($959.19 million), Japan ($883.33 million), and the Netherlands ($325.78 million).
READ: PH trade deficit drops 19.4% as exports continue growth in Aug 2025
