Philippine exports soared by 15.9 percent in September 2025 to $7.25 billion, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
This significant annual jump from $6.26 billion in the same month last year occurred despite the imposition of higher average tariffs of 19 percent by the United States starting in August.
Exports to the US, which remained the Philippines’ largest single market, showed resilience, rising 2.3 percent to $1.108 billion from $1.083 billion a year ago. The US accounted for 15.3 percent of the country’s total exports for the month.
The jump accelerates from August’s 5.5-percent annual increase and a 7.6-percent decrease recorded in September 2024. For the first nine months of the year, cumulative exports reached $63.02 billion, reflecting a 13.1-percent annual increase from $55.71 billion recorded in the January to September 2024 period.
Electronic products were the primary driver of the export surge, contributing the highest annual value increment of $878.27 million. Electronic products also remained the country’s top export overall, with total earnings of $4.02 billion, capturing 55.5 percent of total exports in September.
Other significant increases came from gold, with an annual rise of $128.05 million, and machinery and transport equipment, which saw an increment of $125.44 million.
Aside from the US, the top five export destinations in September 2025 were Hong Kong, with $1.10 billion (15.1-percent share); China, with $959.19 million (13.2 percent); Japan, with $883.33 million (12.2 percent); and the Netherlands, with $325.78 million (4.5 percent).
External trade in goods for September 2025 amounted to $18.86 billion, an annual increase of 7.0 percent.
Imports grew at a slower pace. Total imported goods were valued at $11.60 billion, up 2.1 percent year-on-year.
The Philippines’ balance of trade in goods (BoT-G) for September 2025 registered a deficit of $4.35 billion, lower by 14.7 percent than the deficit registered a year earlier.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated. Originally posted with the headline “Philippine exports surged to $7.25 billion in September despite higher US tariffs.”
