The Top 10 Philippine Industrial Exports

Though it may not be common knowledge for everyone, the Philippines is a prolific exporter of a variety of industrial goods. In fact, according to research from the educational portal WTEx, the country exported more than USD 63 billion worth of goods across the globe in 2020 alone. In that same year, the Philippines’ most profitable trade relationships were with Japan, the United States, member countries of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and neighbors in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). And on the heels of the country’s busy export market, more investors have put their faith into developing industrial land for export-related activities. 

What are the products that have recently secured the highest dollar values for global shipment? Here’s a list of the country’s top ten industrial exports. 

Electrical Machinery and Equipment

The Philippine export market owes a lot of its current success to electrical machinery and electrical equipment, which account for USD 31.7 billion or almost 50% of all exports. Foremost among these products are electronic circuits, insulated wires and cables, and machinery used for printing.

Computers and Computer Parts

Second to electrical machinery and equipment are Philippine exports for computer-related parts. Aside from finished computers themselves, the country also ships out computer parts and accessories. Exports for computer-related machinery totaled USD 9.5 billion in 2020. 

Fruits, Nuts, and Other Industrial Crops

Close behind the Philippines’s electric and computer-related exports are its exports of fruits, nuts, and industrial crops, which amounted to USD 2.3 billion. The Philippines has always been a top exporter of fruits like fresh bananas and pineapples. However, the demand for exports of Philippine mangoes is also growing. 

Components Used in Medical Equipment

The Philippines also notched a USD 1.8 billion milestone for the exportation of parts used for medical equipment. These include components for optical and technical apparatuses. At a time when the demand for quality healthcare and health technology has increased all over the world, the Philippines has been one of the top contributors of these essential supplies through its exports.  

Mineral Ore, Slag, and Ash

The sector of mineral ore, slag, and ash is one of the fastest-growing sectors for industrial exportation in the Philippines, with a USD 1.7 billion contribution to exports. This is due to increasing demand for iron and nickel ore. The country has been a reliable source of mineral ore deposits that are first extracted from their earthen sources, and then broken down either via smelting or electrolysis. 

Copper Metal

Also adding USD 1.7 billion worth of export value is copper metal. Copper has excellent conduction properties for electricity, and aside from electrical wiring, it’s also used for pipes and plumbing. Thus far, the Philippines remains a high-volume exporter of both refined copper and unwrought alloys. 

Gemstones and Precious Metals

The country is known for its abundance of precious metals like gold and silver, but it is also a producer of gemstones like Zambales jade, Zambales mauve, Mindoro jade, jasper, garnet, epidote, tektite, quartz, and schist. Together, these products—which are used in fine jewelry and accessories—contribute a handsome USD 1.4 billion to the Philippines’ export market. 

Motor Vehicles and Vehicle Components

Not to be forgotten is the Philippines’s export industry for motor vehicles, vehicle components, and transport equipment. These include components like ignition wiring sets, which are used in the production of land vehicles, as well as ships and aircrafts. As of 2020, these items contributed as much as USD 939.1 million to the country’s export economy. 

Animal and Vegetable Fat, Oil, and Wax

Also nearing the USD 1 billion mark for export contributions is animal and vegetable oils, as well as their byproducts. Prepared edible fats like virgin coconut oil (VCO) and other similar products derived from animal fat, oil, and wax account for USD 918.8 million of exports. 

Plastic Materials and Plastic Articles

The last item in this top ten list pertains to the Philippines’s downstream plastics industry, which is responsible for up to USD 895.4 million of exports. The sector encompasses industrial activity that focuses on plastic film and sheet extrusion, injection or compression molding, sheet thermoforming, recycling, and the like. It’s a generative industry for the Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, and Valenzuela (CAMANAVA) area of Metro Manila, as well as the provinces of Iloilo and Cebu. 

Aboitiz InfraCapital: Supporting the Country’s Exports Industry

Aboitiz InfraCapital believes that there’s still a lot of potential that can be realized from the Philippines’ export economy. One of the best ways to uplift the country and make it a key player in global trade is to boost industrial and agricultural exports. To do this, Aboitiz InfraCapitalcontinues to grow its portfolio of assets that help facilitate trade and support supply chains. These include investments in economic estates with manufacturing, shipbuilding, or logistics facilities, like the LIMA Estate in Batangas and the Mactan Economic Zone II and West Cebu Industrial Park in Cebu. By building mixed-use developments like these, Aboitiz InfraCapital hopes to help the country bolster the nation’s export industry while spurring further economic growth.