The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that the country’s total agricultural trade reached USD 2.35 billion in April 2025, marking a modest annual increase of 0.1 percent. This follows stronger growth rates of 16.5 percent in March 2025 and 25.6 percent in April 2024.
Agricultural imports continued to dominate the trade landscape in April 2025, accounting for USD 1.60 billion, or 68.3 percent of the total agricultural trade. Agricultural exports, meanwhile, stood at USD 743.22 million, representing a 31.7 percent share.
The balance of trade in agricultural goods recorded a deficit of USD 859.04 million, reflecting an annual decrement of 12.0 percent. This contrasts with annual increases in the trade deficit of 11.1 percent in March 2025 and 8.4 percent in April 2024.
Despite the overall trade deficit, agricultural export revenue showed positive momentum, increasing by 8.7 percent annually to USD 743.22 million in April 2025, up from USD 683.68 million in April 2024. Agricultural exports contributed 11.0 percent to the country’s total exports for the month.
The top 10 commodity groups were significant drivers of agricultural export growth, contributing USD 722.95 million, or 97.3 percent, to the total agricultural export revenue in April 2025. The combined export value of these top groups saw an annual increase of 10.9 percent.
“Animal, vegetable, or microbial fats and oils and their cleavage products, prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes” emerged as the leading agricultural export commodity group, valued at USD 256.47 million, representing 34.5 percent of total agricultural exports in April 2025.
Agricultural exports to ASEAN member countries in April 2025 reached USD 47.90 million, comprising 5.1 percent of the total value of exports to ASEAN. Malaysia was the top buyer within the ASEAN region, with agricultural exports worth USD 15.25 million, or 31.8 percent of the total agricultural exports to ASEAN member countries.
The top three major agricultural commodities exported to ASEAN member countries in April 2025 were:
- Tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes; products, whether or not containing nicotine, intended for inhalation without combustion; other nicotine-containing products intended for the intake of nicotine into the human body: USD 20.53 million
- Cocoa and cocoa preparations: USD 5.63 million
- Miscellaneous edible preparations: USD 4.04 million
