Philippines Trade Deficit Hits $4.13B as Import from China Surge Outpaces Exports

The Philippines posted a $4.13B trade deficit in March 2025 as import growth outpaced exports, driven by electronics and capital goods, PSA data shows.
A cargo ship loaded with containers docks at the port of Lianyungang, in Jiangsu Province, eastern China, on August 7, 2024. AFP Images.

The Philippines’ trade deficit widened sharply to $4.13 billion in March 2025, up 23.1% from a year earlier. Surging imports outpaced modest export gains, highlighting persistent structural vulnerabilities in the country’s trade dynamics.

Preliminary data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed exports rose 5.9% year-on-year to $6.59 billion. In comparison, imports climbed 11.9% to $10.72 billion—marking the most significant trade gap over a year and reversing February’s narrowing trend.

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by Edwin Shri Bimo

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