The most valuable Filipino imports also include refined petroleum and crude oil. Other examples of commodities where Philippines’s domestic supply lags Filipino demand are medication mixes in dosage and motorcycles.
The following list shows on which product categories Filipino importers spent the most. Unlike most information currently available on the web, the items below are detailed at the 4-digit tariff code level.
This level of detail can help entrepreneurs identify more precisely which gaps in which Philippines has strong demand but competitive disadvantages compared with other nations. Innovation can transform these disadvantages into lucrative business opportunities.
For the most recent four-digit HTS code data, please use the link to Philippines Top 10 Imports article in the See also paragraph above Research Sources below.
Highest Value Filipino Import Products
Below are the 20 highest value import products delivered to Filipino importers in 2017. Shown within brackets is the change in value for each imported product over the latest 5-year period.
- Integrated circuits/microassemblies: US$12.3 billion (Up 16.6% from 2013 to 2017)
- Processed petroleum oils: $5.5 billion (Up 4.5%)
- Computer parts, accessories: $4.9 billion (Up 122.8%)
- Cars: $4.5 billion (Up 163.5%)
- Crude oil: $3.5 billion (Down -47.4%)
- Copper ores, concentrates: $1.9 billion (Up 69%)
- Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $1.5 billion (Up 83.8%)
- Trucks: $1.5 billion (Up 202.5%)
- Aircraft, spacecraft: $1.4 billion (Down -41%)
- TV receiver/transmit/digital cameras: $1.3 billion (Up 133.5%)
- Medication mixes in dosage: $1.3 billion (Up 52.1%)
- Wheat: $1.2 billion (Up 39.9%)
- Motorcycles: $983.7 million (Up 263.4%)
- Iron or non-alloy steel products (semi-finished): $972.4 million (Up 498%)
- Computers, optical readers: $957.3 million (Up 165.6%)
- Miscellaneous machinery: $823.7 million (Up 26.1%)
- Insulated wire/cable: $798.1 million (Up 114.7%)
- Flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products (plated/coated): $771 million (Up 79.7%)
- Public-transport vehicles: $738.9 million (Up 145.4%)
- Other food preparations: $732.9 million (Up 47.5%)
Among these product categories, semi-finished iron or non-alloy steel products posted the greatest increase in Filipino import purchases via a 498% gain from 2013 to 2017.
In second place were imported motorcycles which improved in value by 263.4%.
Also showing triple-digit gains were imported trucks (up 202.5%), computers including optical readers (up 165.6%) and cars (up 163.5%).
Two top product subcategories declined, namely crude oil (down -47.4%) and aircraft or spacecraft (down -41%).
See also Philippines Top Trading Partners and Philippines Top 10 Imports
Research Sources:
International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on March 9, 2018
The World Factbook, Field Listing: Imports and World Population, Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on March 9, 2018
Trade Map, International Trade Centre, www.intracen.org/marketanalysis. Accessed on March 9, 2018