The Philippines remained a net importer of agricultural products in March 2025, with imports valued at $1.6 billion and exports at $715 million, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
The country incurred an agricultural trade deficit of $889 million in March, the PSA said.
Agricultural trade in March amounted to $2.32 billion, a 10.6-percent increase from a year ago. This followed a 20.2-percent rise in February and an 8.5-percent decrease in March 2024.
Agricultural exports accounted for 30.8 percent of the total agricultural trade in March, while imports made up 69.2 percent.
Agricultural export revenue rose 16.7 percent to $715.76 million in March 2025 from $613.26 million in March 2024. The March figure accounted for 10.9 percent of the country’s total exports.
Animal, vegetable or microbial fats and oils accounted for the largest share of agricultural exports at 34.8 percent valued at $249.13 million during the month.
Agricultural exports to EU member countries reached $137 million in March 2025, contributing 18.9 percent to the country’s total exports to the EU. The Netherlands was the top destination for agricultural commodities, accounting for $77.58 million or 56.6 percent of the total agricultural exports to the EU in March 2025. (Figure 5 and Table 9)
Meanwhile, agricultural imports reached $1.60 billion in March 2025, representing 15 percent of the country’s total imports. This reflected an 8-percent increase from $1.49 billion worth of agricultural imports in March 2024.
Cereals accounted for the largest share of agricultural imports at 18.1 percent valued at $290.64 million.
Agricultural imports from ASEAN member countries amounted to $721.16 million in March 2025, or 24.2 percent. Vietnam was the leading supplier of agricultural products among ASEAN countries, contributing $229.11 million or 31.8 percent.
Agricultural imports from EU member countries amounted to $120.89 million in March 2025, representing 17.3 percent of the total value of imports from the EU. Spain was the top supplier of agricultural commodities, with an import value of $26.55 million.
The top three agricultural commodities imported from the EU in March 2025 were meat and edible meat offal, $36.24 million; dairy produce; birds’ eggs; natural honey; edible products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included, $27.64 million; and residues and waste from the food industries; prepared animal fodder, $14.89 million.
