THE country’s agricultural trade deficit narrowed sharply to $600.09 million in April as exports surged and overall imports fell, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Data from the PSA showed that the country’s agricultural trade deficit plunged by 34.7 percent to $600.09 million in April, from $919.64 million in the same period last year.
Exports rose by a third or 33.2 percent to $1.029 billion in the reference month, from $772.68 million.
Despite the increase in outbound shipments, import receipts still accounted for the bulk of the farm trade at $1.629 billion, down by 3.7 percent from $1.692 billion in the previous year.
Overall, the country’s total agricultural trade grew by 7.8 percent to $2.658 billion, faster than the 5.2 percent posted in April 2025. However, it is slower than the 11.2 percent growth in March 2026.
Animal, vegetable, or microbial fats and oils and their cleavage products were the top farm export in the reference month, earning $443.57 million or 43.1 percent of total farm export revenues.
This was followed by edible fruit and nuts; preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts, or other parts of plants; and tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes.
Malaysia was still the leading buyer of agricultural products from the Philippines in the Asean region in April, purchasing $70.01 million worth of exports, or 58.4 percent of total farm shipments to Asean member countries.
Among European Union (EU) member countries, the Netherlands also maintained its position as the country’s major trading partner, accounting for $182.21 million or 61.6 percent of shipments to the bloc.
Meanwhile, cereals remained as the country’s leading farm import in April at $321.65 million or 19.7 percent of total agricultural inbound shipments.
The top 10 commodity groups totaled $1.39 billion, down by 1.8 percent from the same month of 2025, based on PSA data.
Among its Asean partners, the Philippines continued to source the majority of farm products from Vietnam, valued at $226.14 million or 34.9 percent of the total shipments from the region.