Domestic trade in the Philippines reached P1.23 trillion in the first quarter of 2025, driven by road transport, according to preliminary data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Road transport accounted for P736.77 billion of the total trade value, marking the first time the PSA included the data in its commodity flow survey.
Water-transported goods came in at P492.79 billion, a 2.7-percent increase from P479.92 billion in the same period a year ago.
Air-transported commodities represented a small fraction of the total at P470 million, but saw a 23.6-percent increase from P380 million recorded in the first quarter of 2024.
The PSA said that in terms of volume, total domestic trade was 16.05 million tons. Water transport was the primary mode, accounting for 8.17 million tons, followed by road transport at 7.88 million tons and air transport at 5,420 tons.
Northern Mindanao had the highest outflow of traded commodities, amounting to P325.78 billion, or 26.5 percent of the total domestic trade value.
This was followed by CALABARZON (P219.81 billion, 17.9 percent) and the National Capital Region (P151.95 billion, 12.4 percent).
CALABARZON led in inflow value, posting P213.39 billion, or 17.3 percent of the total. The National Capital Region (P176.59 billion, 14.4 percent) and SOCCSKSARGEN (P135.34 billion, 11.0 percent) followed.
The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) recorded the lowest inflow at P2.13 billion (0.2 percent).
The PSA defines “outflows” as commodities that exit a specific region for trading and “inflows” as externally sourced products that enter a new destination.
Northern Mindanao had the most favorable trade balance at P207.05 billion, followed by the Bicol Region (P112.31 billion) and the Davao Region (P20.46 billion).
SOCCSKSARGEN (-P126.97 billion), the Zamboanga Peninsula (-P93.56 billion), and Caraga (-P64.60 billion) had the most unfavorable balances.
