Eastern Visayas recorded a sharp decline in export earnings in October 2025, with the total value of exports dropping by 89.1 percent to USD 23.80 million from USD 217.87 million in the same month last year, according to preliminary data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
The steep fall in exports pulled down the region’s overall external trade performance.
The PSA reported that the total value of external trade, which includes both exports and imports, fell by 92.1 percent to USD 37.70 million in October 2025, from USD 475.19 million in October 2024.
Despite the slowdown, Eastern Visayas posted a trade surplus of USD 9.90 million during the month, a turnaround from the USD 39.46 million trade deficit recorded a year earlier.
The surplus was mainly due to a much sharper drop in imports than exports.
While export earnings declined significantly, the volume of goods shipped abroad increased.
Export volume reached 617.25 million kilograms in October 2025, up by 158.1 percent from 239.14 million kilograms in October 2024.
This indicates that more goods were exported, but at much lower values, reflecting changes in prices or in the types of products shipped.
Exports during the month were largely concentrated in a few commodity groups.
Animal, vegetable, or microbial fats and oils, including prepared edible fats and waxes, remained the region’s top export, valued at USD 14.18 million.
This commodity group accounted for nearly 60 percent of total export earnings.
Ores, slag and ash followed with USD 7.21 million or 30.3 percent, while fertilisers contributed USD 2.05 million or 8.6 percent.
Smaller export earnings came from pulp of wood and recovered paper, amounting to USD 0.37 million.
Spain was the leading destination for Eastern Visayas exports in October 2025, receiving USD 14.18 million worth of goods, or 59.6 percent of total exports.
The People’s Republic of China ranked second with USD 4.82 million or 20.3 percent, followed by Indonesia at USD 2.48 million or 10.4 percent and Vietnam at USD 2.05 million or 8.6 percent.
Imports into the region also declined sharply. The total value of imports dropped by 94.6 percent to USD 13.90 million from USD 257.32 million in October 2024, while import volume fell by 66.9 percent to 75.98 million kilograms.
Mineral fuels and related products dominated imports at USD 11.52 million, accounting for 82.9 percent of total imports. South Korea was the region’s top source of imports, supplying USD 5.67 million worth of goods according to PSA data.
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