Philippine Imports Surge 25.7% in September

2026-10-30 01:14 By Judith Sib-at 1 min. read

Philippine imports surged 25.7% year-on-year to a record USD 15.03 billion in September 2026, following an upwardly revised 20.9% increase in August.

This marked the fastest increase since May, largely driven by sharp increases in imports of electronic products (87.4%) and mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (53.3%).

Imports of cereals and cereal preparations (22.8%), telecommunication equipment and electrical machinery (14.2%), and plastics in primary and non-primary forms (13.6%) also went up.

Meanwhile, imports dropped for transport equipment (-26.2%), industrial machinery and equipment (-0.1%), and other food and live animals (-14.7%).

South Korea was the country’s largest source of imports during the month, accounting for 26.1% of total imports, with purchases from the country soaring 264.2%.

Imports from China, which represented 22.3% of the total, fell 0.7%.

In the first nine months of 2026, the country's imports rose 20.3% from a year earlier to USD 121.11 billion.



News Stream
Philippine Imports Surge 25.7% in September
Philippine imports surged 25.7% year-on-year to a record USD 15.03 billion in September 2026, following an upwardly revised 20.9% increase in August. This marked the fastest increase since May, largely driven by sharp increases in imports of electronic products (87.4%) and mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (53.3%). Imports of cereals and cereal preparations (22.8%), telecommunication equipment and electrical machinery (14.2%), and plastics in primary and non-primary forms (13.6%) also went up. Meanwhile, imports dropped for transport equipment (-26.2%), industrial machinery and equipment (-0.1%), and other food and live animals (-14.7%). South Korea was the country’s largest source of imports during the month, accounting for 26.1% of total imports, with purchases from the country soaring 264.2%. Imports from China, which represented 22.3% of the total, fell 0.7%. In the first nine months of 2026, the country's imports rose 20.3% from a year earlier to USD 121.11 billion.
2026-10-30
Philippines Import Growth Hits 6-Month Low
Philippine imports rose 16.6% year-on-year to a six-month low of USD 13 billion in August 2026, slowing from an upwardly revised 23% in the previous month. It marked the weakest annual growth since February, as imports declined for industrial and machinery equipment (-7.1%), other food and live animals (-24.2%), miscellaneous manufactured articles (-8.4%), and iron and steel (-27.1%). Meanwhile, imports of electronic products surged 61.4%, driven mainly by components/devices (82.4%) and electronic data processing equipment (13.7%). Import growth was also supported by mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (38.6%) and transport equipment (0.6%). China remained the Philippines’ largest source of imports, accounting for 22.7% of the total despite falling 11.1%. Imports from South Korea (212.6%), Japan (21.2%), and Indonesia (4.3%) increased. In the first eight months of the year, the country's total imports reached USD 105.6 billion.
2026-09-30
Philippines Imports Growth at 4-Month Low
Philippine imports rose 19.8% year-on-year to USD 14.1 billion in July 2026, easing from an upwardly revised 25% in the previous month. It marked the slowest growth since March, as declines in shipments of transport equipment (-3.8%), industrial machinery and equipment (-3.7%), iron and steel (-8.3%), and other food and live animals (-9.6%) weighed on overall import growth. Meanwhile, imports of electronic products surged 61.3%, led by components and devices (79%) and electronic data processing equipment (32.8%). Import growth was also supported by strong gains in mineral fuels, lubricants, and related materials (34.8%) and cereals and cereal preparations (50.1%). China remained the Philippines’ largest source of imports, accounting for 29.5% of the total, with purchases rising 20.2% from a year earlier. Imports also increased from South Korea (75.7%), Japan (23.1%) and the US (4.2%). In the first seven months of 2026, the country's imports reached USD 92.3 billion.
2026-08-28