Philippine agricultural trade gap widens 24.8% as exports decline
The September 2026 deficit reached US$1.25 billion, the highest recorded since March 2026, according to official figures.
Falling agricultural export revenue accompanied a widening of the Philippines' agricultural trade gap to US$1.25 billion in September 2026. Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) figures put the annual increase at 24.8%, with the deficit reaching its highest level since March 2026.
Export receipts totalled US$642.11 million for the month, a decline of 21.2% against the US$814.40 million recorded in September 2025. Separately, agricultural imports increased by 4.2%, reaching US$1.89 billion compared with US$1.82 billion a year earlier.
The leading export category was edible fruits, nuts and citrus/melon peels. It generated US$229.55 million, representing 35.7% of agricultural export revenue, according to the PSA. On the import side, cereals ranked first, with purchases of US$483.84 million accounting for 25.6% of the total.
Malaysia bought US$17.04 million in Philippine agricultural goods, placing it ahead of other Southeast Asian buyers. The Netherlands ranked highest among European buyers, with purchases of US$81.09 million.
Indonesia supplied US$288.43 million in agricultural goods, making it the leading Southeast Asian supplier and accounting for 39.4% of Philippine agricultural imports from ASEAN. Spain ranked first among EU suppliers, with goods valued at US$32.30 million.
