Imports rose 19.6% to USD 13.7 billion, widening the trade deficit to USD 4.9 billion as electronics and semiconductor demand boosted both shipments and purchases.
Philippine exports climbed 24.1% year-on-year to USD 8.8 billion in June 2026, while imports rose 19.6% to USD 13.7 billion, widening the trade deficit to USD 4.9 billion from USD 4.4 billion a year earlier. Trade flows were driven by electronics, with exports of electronic products up 35.2%, mainly semiconductors rising 33.4%, and imports of electronic products surging 82.9%, led by a 105.4% jump in semiconductors amid stronger global AI demand. Imports also increased for mineral fuels, industrial machinery and equipment, and cereals, while exports gained in machinery and transport equipment, gold, and other manufactured goods. China was the Philippines’ biggest source of imports, while the US remained its top export market. In the first half of 2026, the country’s trade gap reached USD 30.8 billion.