THE country imported a record-high amount of agricultural products in March, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority.
Agricultural import value was $1.90 billion, the largest since 2000. It also reflected a 10.8 percent growth from last year’s $1.71 billion.
Imports accounted for 72.3 percent of total agricultural trade and a 14.9 percent share of the country’s total imports for the month.
On the other hand, agricultural exports totaled $727.17 million, a 3.3 percent decline from last year’s $752.33 million. It was also the lowest agricultural export value since January’s $719.99 million.
Exports accounted for 27.7 percent of total agricultural trade and 8.9 percent of the country’s total exports for March.
Total agricultural trade was $2.62 billion in March, up by 6.5 percent from $2.46 billion in March 2025. This was also the highest since the $2.63 billion in September 2025.
However, this reflected slower growth compared to the 17.4 percent increase in March last year.
The country also posted its highest agricultural trade deficit in almost two years. Total trade shortfall in agricultural goods was $1.17 billion in March, the highest since the $1.22 billion in May 2024.
This also showed a 21.9 percent trade deficit growth compared to the $958.21 million in the same month last year.
Exports
Edible fruit and nuts, along with peels of citrus fruit or melons, comprised the largest share of the country’s total agricultural exports in March at $231.24 million or 31.8 percent.
Agricultural exports to Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) member countries totaled $56.60 million, or 4.7 percent of total export value to Asean member countries.
Malaysia was the top buyer of agricultural exports, accounting for $16.56 million or 29.3 percent share of total agricultural exports to Asean members.
Top agricultural exports to Asean member countries totaling $23.92 million or 42.3 percent were tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes; products, whether or not containing nicotine, intended for inhalation without combustion; and other nicotine-containing products intended for the intake of nicotine into the human body.
These were followed by miscellaneous edible preparations ($7.88 million, 13.9 percent) and preparations of cereals, flour, starch, or milk; pastrycooks’ products ($5.20 million, 9.2 percent).
Agricultural exports to European Union (EU) member countries reached $181.29 million in March, accounting for 19.1 percent of the country’s total exports to the group.
The Netherlands was the top destination of agricultural commodities at $102.77 million, accounting for 56.7 percent of the total agricultural exports to EU member countries in March.
Top agricultural exports to EU member countries, totaling $115.25 million or 63.6 percent, were animal, vegetable, or microbial fats and oils and their cleavage products; prepared edible fats; and animal or vegetable waxes.
These were followed by preparations of meat, fish, crustaceans, mollusks, other aquatic invertebrates, or insects ($28.85 million, 15.9 percet) and preparations of vegetables, fruits, nuts, or other parts of plants ($13.00 million, 7.2 percent).
Imports
Cereals were the country’s top agricultural imports in March, accounting for $457.06 million or 24.1 percent of the total agricultural imports for the month.
Agricultural imports from Asean member countries totaled $747.83 million or 23.0 percent of total imports from the group.
Vietnam was the top source of agricultural imports at $208.52 million or 27.9 percent of total agricultural imports from the group.
Top agricultural imports from Asean member countries at $198.86 million or 26.6 percent were animal, vegetable, or microbial fats and oils and their cleavage products; prepared edible fats; and animal or vegetable waxes.
These were followed by cereals ($197.68, 26.4 percent) and miscellaneous edible preparations ($136.73 million, 18.3 percent).
The country’s agricultural imports from EU member countries reached $101.02 million or a 15.0 percent share of total imports from the group.
Spain was the country’s top source of agricultural imports among EU member countries, totaling $18.37 million or 18.2 percent share of total agricultural imports from the group.
Top agricultural imports from EU member countries, totaling $24.07 million or 23.8 percent, were dairy produce, bird’s eggs, natural honey, and edible products of animal origin not elsewhere specified or included.
These were followed by meat and edible meat offal ($22.95 million, 22.7 percent) and residues and waste from the food industries and prepared animal fodder ($12.89 million, 12.8 percent).
