Philippine exports surge 21.3%, top 2024 levels early

Philippine exports continued their strong momentum in November 2025, rising 21.3% year-on-year to USD 6.9 billion and surpassing the country’s full-year 2024 export total with a month still left in the calendar, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) reported Friday.

The surge marked the 11th consecutive month of export growth and the third straight month of double-digit gains, driven by global demand for electronics, agro-based products, and non-food consumer goods.

From January to November 2025, Philippine exports totaled USD 77.4 billion — up 14.5% from the same period in 2024 and already more than USD 4 billion above last year’s annual total, according to the DTI’s Export Marketing Bureau.

The robust export performance also contributed to narrowing the country’s trade deficit by 9.9%, as import growth eased.

Trade Secretary Cristina A. Roque said the latest figures underscore the global competitiveness of Philippine-made goods.

“The continued rise in our exports shows that Filipino-made products remain competitive worldwide. The remarkable growth in electronics, food products, and consumer goods reflects growing global demand and supports jobs, incomes, and wider opportunities for our exporters,” she said.

The DTI said export growth in November was broad-based, with increases seen across multiple sectors and markets in Asia-Pacific, the Americas, and Europe.

Key product drivers included:

• Electronics: USD 4.2 billion, up 50.6% year-on-year;
• Coconut products: up 27.1%, adding over USD 70 million;
• Banana and pineapple juice: combined USD 46 million, rising 38.8% and 40.0% respectively;
• Gold exports: up 50.7% to USD 181.8 million;
• Machinery and transport equipment: up 29.4% to USD 317 million;
• Non-food consumer goods: all posted double-digit increases, including furniture and fixtures (+65.9%), footwear (+28.6%), travel goods (+28.3%), and garments (+11.2%).

Top destination markets in November were:

• Hong Kong and the United States, each importing USD 1.2 billion in goods, with Philippine exports to Hong Kong nearly doubling and US-bound shipments up 19.3%;
• The Netherlands and Taiwan, where exports more than doubled, adding a combined USD 330 million;
• Germany: up 63.6% to USD 295.9 million;
• Malaysia, Mexico, and Italy: each showing export growth exceeding 50%.

On a year-to-date basis, exports to Canada and Australia tripled, reaching USD 1.6 billion and USD 1.7 billion, respectively.

DTI–Export Marketing Bureau Director Bianca Pearl R. Sykimte credited improved trade access for agriculture, particularly the United States’ tariff exemptions, as key to the export sector’s resilience.

“The US reciprocal tariff exemption on key Philippine agriculture products provides a more level playing field for our food exporters in the US market. Coupled with gains in other markets from strategic export development and promotion initiatives, we see continued momentum for food exports and a more inclusive growth ahead,” Sykimte said.

The DTI said it expects the growth trajectory to continue into 2026, buoyed by global recovery in demand and strengthened by domestic export promotion strategies.

For more information on Philippine exports, the DTI encourages inquiries via exports@dti.gov.ph or visiting www.tradelinephilippines.dti.gov.ph.