From a continental perspective, almost four-fifths (79%) of the Philippines’ total imports by value in 2018 were purchased from fellow Asian countries. Trade partners in Europe supplied 9.6% of imports delivered to the Philippines while 8.1% worth of goods originated from North America. Smaller percentages came from Oceania (2%) led by Australia and New Zealand, Latin America (1%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, then Africa (0.2%).
Given the Philippine population of 105.9 million people, its total $115.1 billion in 2018 imports translates to roughly $1,100 in yearly product demand from every person in the Southeast Asian nation.
Philippines Top 10 Imports
Top 10
The following product groups represent the highest dollar value worth of import purchases during 2018. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into the Philippines.
- Electrical machinery, equipment: US$28.3 billion (24.6% of total imports)
- Mineral fuels including oil: $13.9 billion (12.1%)
- Machinery including computers: $12.8 billion (11.1%)
- Vehicles: $8.6 billion (7.5%)
- Iron, steel: $5.2 billion (4.5%)
- Plastics, plastic articles: $3.8 billion (3.3%)
- Aircraft, spacecraft: $3.3 billion (2.8%)
- Cereals: $2.7 billion (2.3%)
- Articles of iron or steel: $2 billion (1.7%)
- Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $2 billion (1.7%)
The Philippines’ top 10 imports accounted for well over two-thirds (71.8%) of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.
Imported aircraft and spacecraft had the fastest-growing increase in value among the top 10 import categories, up 65.7% from 2017 to 2018.
In second place for expanding import purchases was the cereals category up 50.3% led by wheat, rice and corn.
Imports of iron and steel metals increased by 32.9% followed by articles made from iron or steel via its 26% gain.
There were two declines year over year, -5.3% for imported machinery including computers and -1.6% for vehicles.
Note that the results listed above are at the categorized two-digit Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) code level. For a more detailed view of imported goods at the four-digit HTS code level, see the section Searchable List of Philippines’ Most Valuable Import Products further down near the bottom of this article or under the adjacent product folder tabs.
Electronics
Filipino importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electronic equipment including consumer electronics:
- Integrated circuits/microassemblies: US$16.9 billion (up 33% from 2017)
- Phone system devices including smartphones: $2.6 billion (up 16.2%)
- Solar power diodes/semi-conductors: $946.8 million (up 9%)
- Insulated wire/cable: $880.4 million (up 6.4%)
- Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $717.1 million (up 6.7%)
- Electrical converters/power units: $630.8 million (up 30.2%)
- Printed circuits: $519 million (up 25%)
- TV receivers/monitors/projectors: $471.2 million (up 18.2%)
- Unrecorded sound media: $424.5 million (up 13.9%)
- Electrical capacitators: $417.1 million (up 12.9%)
Among these import subcategories, Filipino purchases of integrated circuits and microassemblies (up 33%), electrical converters or power units (up 30.2%) then printed circuits (up 25%) grew at the fastest pace from 2017 to 2018.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported electronics among Filipino businesses and consumers.
Fuel
Filipino importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of mineral fuels-related products:
- Processed petroleum oils: US$6.1 billion (up 8.7% from 2017)
- Crude oil: $5.2 billion (up 47.8%)
- Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $1.8 billion (up 15.8%)
- Petroleum gases: $654.3 million (up 3.4%)
- Natural bitumen, asphalt, shale: $52.5 million (up 28.7%)
- Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): $34.6 million (up 13.9%)
- Petroleum oil residues: $22.9 million (down -6.4%)
- Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $13.5 million (down -6.5%)
- Coke, semi-coke: $6.6 million (up 17.7%)
- Peat: $336,000 (down -14.5%)
Among these import subcategories, Filipino purchases of crude oil (up 47.8%), natural bitumen, asphalt and shale (up 28.7%) then coke or semi-coke (up 17.7%) grew at the fastest pace from 2017 to 2018.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported fossil fuel-related products among Filipino businesses and consumers.
Machinery
Filipino importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machines including computers:
- Computer parts, accessories: US$1.9 billion (up 13.3% from 2017)
- Printing machinery: $1.6 billion (down -50.2%)
- Miscellaneous machinery: $910.1 million (up 16.8%)
- Computers, optical readers: $828.4 million (up 14.4%)
- Heavy machinery (bulldozers, excavators, road rollers): $734.2 million (up 42.4%)
- Air conditioners: $398.5 million (up 7.4%)
- Refrigerators, freezers: $386.9 million (up 8.1%)
- Machinery for making semi-conductors: $354.6 million (down -33.9%)
- Transmission shafts, gears, clutches: $342.5 million (up 37.8%)
- Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $312.1 million (up 21.9%)
Among these import subcategories, Filipino purchases of heavy machinery such as bulldozers, excavators and road rollers (up 42.4%), transmission shafts, gears and clutches (up 37.8%) then centrifuges, filters and purifiers (up 21.9%) grew at the fastest pace from 2017 to 2018.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported machinery among Filipino businesses and consumers.
Vehicles
Filipino importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of vehicles-related products:
- Cars: US$3.7 billion (down -19% from 2017)
- Trucks: $1.8 billion (up 18%)
- Motorcycles: $1.3 billion (up 32.1%)
- Automobile parts/accessories: $621.5 million (up 40.4%)
- Public-transport vehicles: $551.2 million (down -25.9%)
- Motorcycle parts/accessories: $286.4 million (up 81.6%)
- Tractors: $191.5 million (down -3.6%)
- Special purpose vehicles: $94.1 million (down -5.6%)
- Trailers: $55.4 million (up 18.7%)
- Bicycles, other non-motorized cycles: $27.3 million (up 110.8%)
Among these import subcategories, Filipino purchases of bicycles and other non-motorized cycles (up 110.8%), motorcycle parts or accessories (up 81.6%) then automobile parts or accessories (up 40.4%) grew at the fastest pace from 2017 to 2018.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported vehicles-related products among Filipino businesses and consumers.
Searchable List of Philippines’ Most Valuable Import Products
At the more granular four-digit HTS code level, the top import products into the Philippines are electronic integrated circuits and microassemblies followed by refined petroleum oils, computer parts or accessories, motor cars then crude oil.
The following searchable table displays 200 of most in-demand Filipino imported goods during 2018. Shown beside each product label is its total import value then the percentage increase or decrease since 2017.
| Rank | Philippines' Import Product | 2018 Value (US$) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Integrated circuits/microassemblies | $16.9 billion | +33% |
| 2 | Processed petroleum oils | $6.1 billion | +8.7% |
| 3 | Crude oil | $5.2 billion | +47.8% |
| 4 | Cars | $3.7 billion | -19% |
| 5 | Phone system devices including smartphones | $2.6 billion | +16.2% |
| 6 | Aircraft, spacecraft | $2 billion | +41.8% |
| 7 | Computer parts, accessories | $1.9 billion | +13.3% |
| 8 | Coal, solid fuels made from coal | $1.8 billion | +15.8% |
| 9 | Iron or non-alloy steel products (semi-finished) | $1.8 billion | +80.7% |
| 10 | Trucks | $1.8 billion | +18% |
| 11 | Wheat | $1.7 billion | +29.1% |
| 12 | Printing machinery | $1.6 billion | -50.2% |
| 13 | Motorcycles | $1.3 billion | +32.1% |
| 14 | Medication mixes in dosage | $1.3 billion | -1.1% |
| 15 | Aircraft parts | $1.2 billion | +125.9% |
| 16 | Soya-bean oil-cake, other solid residues | $1.1 billion | +14.3% |
| 17 | Flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products (plated/coated) | $985.7 million | +24.8% |
| 18 | Solar power diodes/semi-conductors | $946.8 million | +9% |
| 19 | Miscellaneous machinery | $910.1 million | +16.8% |
| 20 | Insulated wire/cable | $880.4 million | +6.4% |
| 21 | Computers, optical readers | $828.4 million | +14.4% |
| 22 | Rice | $736.6 million | +105.9% |
| 23 | Heavy machinery (bulldozers, excavators, road rollers) | $734.2 million | +42.4% |
| 24 | Other food preparations | $718.3 million | -4.7% |
| 25 | Lower-voltage switches, fuses | $717.1 million | +6.7% |
| 26 | Copper ores, concentrates | $684.6 million | -61.1% |
| 27 | Petroleum gases | $654.3 million | +3.4% |
| 28 | Electrical converters/power units | $630.8 million | +30.2% |
| 29 | Automobile parts/accessories | $621.5 million | +40.4% |
| 30 | Animal/vegetable fats, oils | $570.6 million | -10.7% |
| 31 | Oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers | $561 million | +5.4% |
| 32 | Public-transport vehicles | $551.2 million | -25.9% |
| 33 | Coffee/tea extracts, concentrates | $541.4 million | +14.3% |
| 34 | Hydraulic cements | $540.6 million | +21.3% |
| 35 | Printed circuits | $519 million | +25% |
| 36 | TV receivers/monitors/projectors | $471.2 million | +18.2% |
| 37 | Plastic packing goods, lids, caps | $452.2 million | +39.4% |
| 38 | Polyacetal/ether/carbonates | $447 million | +12.9% |
| 39 | Miscellaneous iron and steel structures | $439.4 million | +13.8% |
| 40 | Frozen beef | $436.4 million | +8.2% |
| 41 | Concentrated/sweetened milk, cream | $433.4 million | +0.2% |
| 42 | Unrecorded sound media | $424.5 million | +13.9% |
| 43 | Electrical capacitators | $417.1 million | +12.9% |
| 44 | TV/radio/radar device parts | $412 million | +0.4% |
| 45 | Flat-rolled other alloy steel products | $407.6 million | +32.7% |
| 46 | Whole fish (frozen) | $403.6 million | -2.5% |
| 47 | Air conditioners | $398.5 million | +7.4% |
| 48 | Refrigerators, freezers | $386.9 million | +8.1% |
| 49 | Ethylene polymers | $376 million | +29.5% |
| 50 | Scents used for beverage or industrial manufacturing | $376 million | +6.7% |
| 51 | Hot-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products | $367 million | +22.7% |
| 52 | Glazed ceramic tiles, cubes | $366.2 million | +21.7% |
| 53 | Packaged insecticides/fungicides/herbicides | $363.3 million | +0.9% |
| 54 | Machinery for making semi-conductors | $354.6 million | -33.9% |
| 55 | Nitrogenous fertilizers | $347.7 million | +1.5% |
| 56 | Miscellaneous plastic items | $343.3 million | +10.1% |
| 57 | Transmission shafts, gears, clutches | $342.5 million | +37.8% |
| 58 | Iron or steel sheet piling | $341.8 million | +127.7% |
| 59 | Miscellaneous animal feed preparations | $337.1 million | +17.3% |
| 60 | Miscellaneous furniture | $333.3 million | +37.3% |
| 61 | Cold-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products | $330.3 million | +13.7% |
| 62 | Iron ores, concentrates | $324.1 million | -10.9% |
| 63 | Iron or non-alloy steel angles, shapes, sections | $316.1 million | +126.4% |
| 64 | Rubber tires (new) | $314.7 million | +11.4% |
| 65 | Plastic plates, sheets, film, tape, strips | $313.3 million | +13.6% |
| 66 | Centrifuges, filters and purifiers | $312.1 million | +21.9% |
| 67 | Air or vacuum pumps | $298.9 million | +11.8% |
| 68 | Laminated wood (including plywood, veneer panels) | $295.3 million | +24.7% |
| 69 | Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels | $290.1 million | +38.5% |
| 70 | Motorcycle parts/accessories | $286.4 million | +81.6% |
| 71 | Red meat offal | $278.3 million | +23.9% |
| 72 | Blood fractions (including antisera) | $276.9 million | -6.9% |
| 73 | Coated paper | $274 million | +30.8% |
| 74 | Poultry meat | $272.8 million | +14.1% |
| 75 | Lifting/loading machinery | $271.4 million | -2.5% |
| 76 | Corn | $268.1 million | +107.7% |
| 77 | Coiled other alloy steel bars, rods | $268 million | -22.9% |
| 78 | Ethyl alcohol | $262.2 million | -8.7% |
| 79 | Piston engines | $261.2 million | +79.2% |
| 80 | Electro-medical equipment (e.g. xrays) | $258.3 million | +4.1% |
| 81 | Miscellaneous iron or steel tubes, pipes | $257.5 million | +53.2% |
| 82 | High-voltage switches, fuses | $253.2 million | +24.8% |
| 83 | Plastic plates, sheets, film, tape, strips | $248.4 million | +8.8% |
| 84 | Unmanufactured tobacco, tobacco waste | $248.1 million | +40.6% |
| 85 | Taps, valves, similar appliances | $247.5 million | -15.9% |
| 86 | Sawn wood | $243.1 million | +309.6% |
| 87 | Temperature-change machines | $242.5 million | +29.2% |
| 88 | Copper wire | $236.3 million | +10.1% |
| 89 | Electric storage batteries | $226.2 million | +14.3% |
| 90 | Other machine parts, accessories | $224.5 million | +36.8% |
| 91 | Sanitary towels, baby napkins/liners | $221.7 million | +11.6% |
| 92 | Other organic cleaning preparations | $219.4 million | +9.9% |
| 93 | Unglazed ceramic flags, tiles | $215.7 million | +106.5% |
| 94 | Electric motors, generators | $215 million | -4.9% |
| 95 | Liquid pumps and elevators | $212.9 million | +5.1% |
| 96 | Uncoated kraft paper | $211.5 million | +6.8% |
| 97 | Propylene/olefin polymers | $211.5 million | +19.4% |
| 98 | Rubber/plastic article making machines | $206.9 million | +15.2% |
| 99 | Fertilizer mixes | $204.3 million | -8.1% |
| 100 | Coiled iron or non-alloy steel bars, rods | $204.2 million | +335.3% |
| 101 | Electric circuit parts, fuses, switches | $203.3 million | -2.6% |
| 102 | Other measuring/testing machines | $202.2 million | -11.2% |
| 103 | Sugar (cane or beet) | $196.9 million | +487% |
| 104 | Swine meat | $195.3 million | +13.6% |
| 105 | Cases, handbags, wallets | $194.2 million | +51.9% |
| 106 | Styrene polymers | $193.7 million | +30.5% |
| 107 | Self-adhesive plastic in rolls | $192.2 million | -0.3% |
| 108 | Tractors | $191.5 million | -3.6% |
| 109 | Alloy steel bars, rods | $189.9 million | -53.3% |
| 110 | Butter, ghee | $189.4 million | +8.9% |
| 111 | Apples, pears (fresh) | $187 million | +4.9% |
| 112 | Ball, roller bearings | $186.2 million | +33.4% |
| 113 | Palm oil | $186.2 million | -2.6% |
| 114 | Chemical industry products/residuals | $186.1 million | +9.8% |
| 115 | Miscellaneous iron or steel items | $186 million | -10.4% |
| 116 | Copper bars, rods | $182.2 million | +0.5% |
| 117 | Machinery parts | $182.1 million | +5.1% |
| 118 | Electric water heaters, hair dryers | $178.5 million | +34.7% |
| 119 | Electrical machinery | $177.8 million | -3.7% |
| 120 | Amino-resins | $175.2 million | +35.5% |
| 121 | Derricks, cranes | $173.8 million | +35.9% |
| 122 | Dishwashing, clean/dry/fill machines | $170.2 million | -1.4% |
| 123 | Other than warp-knit fabrics | $169.4 million | -0.1% |
| 124 | Microphones/headphones/amps | $168.6 million | +25.6% |
| 125 | Uncoated paper for writing/printing | $166.3 million | +11.4% |
| 126 | Cruise/cargo ships, barges | $165.9 million | +46.6% |
| 127 | Table games, bowling equipment | $165 million | +9.5% |
| 128 | Electric motor parts | $163.2 million | +1.7% |
| 129 | Models, puzzles, miscellaneous toys | $162.6 million | +10.3% |
| 130 | Other diagnostic/lab reagents | $162.5 million | +36.7% |
| 131 | Flour/meal/starch/malt extract food preparations | $162.2 million | -6.8% |
| 132 | Chemicals used in electronics | $162.1 million | -4.8% |
| 133 | Electric sound/visual signal bells or alarms | $161.6 million | -7.9% |
| 134 | Hair preparations | $160.9 million | +14.3% |
| 135 | Vulcanized rubber items | $160.8 million | +5.6% |
| 136 | Bread, biscuits, cakes, pastries | $157.9 million | +26.8% |
| 137 | Oral/dental hygiene preparations | $157 million | +69.4% |
| 138 | Uncoated paper | $154.9 million | +3% |
| 139 | Plastic tubes, pipes, fittings | $153.9 million | -2.2% |
| 140 | Footwear (textile) | $153 million | +84.3% |
| 141 | Solid-form sugars, fructose, glucose, lactose | $150.6 million | -41.3% |
| 142 | Sauces, mixed condiments, seasonings | $148.6 million | +6.5% |
| 143 | Prepared adhesives, glues | $147.7 million | +1.2% |
| 144 | Amino-compounds (oxygen) | $146.8 million | +6.7% |
| 145 | Acyclic hydrocarbons | $146.7 million | +19.5% |
| 146 | Non-alcoholic drinks (not water/juice/milk) | $144.3 million | +19.4% |
| 147 | Beauty/makeup/skin care preparations | $143.8 million | +15% |
| 148 | Other prepared/preserved vegetables (frozen) | $143.6 million | +4.5% |
| 149 | Alcohol (including spirits, liqueurs) | $143.1 million | +52.5% |
| 150 | Cheese, curd | $142.7 million | +4.5% |
| 151 | Plastic tableware, kitchenware, toiletry | $140.7 million | +7.9% |
| 152 | Inedible meat flour | $139.8 million | +22.4% |
| 153 | Iron and steel screws, bolts, nuts, washers | $135.6 million | +15.7% |
| 154 | Seats (excluding barber/dentist chairs) | $135.6 million | +32.7% |
| 155 | Other coloring matter, luminophores | $135.5 million | +23.6% |
| 156 | Electric generating sets, converters | $135.2 million | -30.2% |
| 157 | Lamps, lighting, illuminated signs | $134.2 million | -6% |
| 158 | Organic surface-active goods, soap | $133.7 million | +11.1% |
| 159 | Lenses, prisms, mirrors | $133.4 million | +6.8% |
| 160 | Magnets including electro-magnets | $131.5 million | -10.8% |
| 161 | Sort/screen/washing machinery | $130.8 million | -12.8% |
| 162 | Gold (unwrought) | $129.6 million | +36% |
| 163 | Washing machines | $128.3 million | +26.5% |
| 164 | Piston engine parts | $125 million | +49.1% |
| 165 | Miscellaneous footwear | $124.1 million | -1.2% |
| 166 | Electrical resistors | $124 million | +72.4% |
| 167 | Chocolate, other cocoa preparations | $123.2 million | +5% |
| 168 | Primary batteries/cells | $121.6 million | +96.6% |
| 169 | Bottles, flasks, jars, pots | $117.6 million | +36.5% |
| 170 | Acyclic alcohols | $116.9 million | +1.7% |
| 171 | Print/write/draw inks | $116.1 million | +1% |
| 172 | Provitamins, vitamins | $115.2 million | +33.6% |
| 173 | Paper containers, cellulose wadding | $111.1 million | +31.3% |
| 174 | Synthetic filament yarn | $111.1 million | +4% |
| 175 | Industrial preparation machinery | $110.8 million | +7.1% |
| 176 | Sugar confectionery (no cocoa) | $110.4 million | +32.3% |
| 177 | Acrylic polymers | $108.7 million | +13.1% |
| 178 | Starches, inulin | $108.3 million | +54.7% |
| 179 | Interchangeable hand/machine tools | $107.5 million | -21.3% |
| 180 | Spray/dispersing mechanical appliances | $104.9 million | +40.5% |
| 181 | Copper plates, sheets, strips | $104.9 million | +24.3% |
| 182 | Refined copper, unwrought alloys | $104.5 million | +2.2% |
| 183 | Coconut/palm/babassu oil | $102.8 million | -5.8% |
| 184 | Cellulose fiber paper | $102.7 million | +14.1% |
| 185 | Prefabricated buildings | $101.3 million | +20.1% |
| 186 | Lead (unwrought) | $100.9 million | -0.4% |
| 187 | Synthetic yarn woven fabrics | $100.2 million | +94.1% |
| 188 | Physical/chemical analysis tools | $99.2 million | +4.1% |
| 189 | Aluminum (unwrought) | $98 million | +12.2% |
| 190 | Machine-tool for metal | $97.2 million | +19.5% |
| 191 | Hydrocarbon derivatives | $96.9 million | -7.8% |
| 192 | Engines (diesel) | $96.4 million | -36.7% |
| 193 | Vinyl chloride polymers | $96.3 million | +7% |
| 194 | Fresh or dried citrus fruit | $95.4 million | +31% |
| 195 | X-ray equipment | $94.9 million | +6.7% |
| 196 | Base metal mountings, fittings | $94.8 million | +1% |
| 197 | Special purpose vehicles | $94.1 million | -5.6% |
| 198 | Fork-lift trucks | $93.7 million | -11% |
| 199 | Photographic cameras, apparatus | $92.2 million | +4.4% |
| 200 | Machine-part brooms, brushes | $92.1 million | +64.1% |
These 200 imported goods were worth a subtotal of US$98.7 billion or 85.7% by value for all products imported into the Philippines during 2018.
See also Philippines Top 10 Exports, Philippines Top Trading Partners and Top Filipino Trade Balances
Research Sources:
International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on March 26, 2019
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on March 26, 2019
Trade Map, International Trade Centre. Accessed on March 26, 2019
Wikipedia, List of Companies of the Philippines. Accessed on March 26, 2019
Wikipedia, Philippines. Accessed on March 26, 2019