By Tracy Cabrera
DILIMAN, Quezon City — Amid inflation and high cost of living, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is bent on making the Philippines an agile export powerhouse by pushing for faster export growth.
With several business development programs underway, Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Aldeguer-Roque enthused that she is very much optimistic this can be achieved as data have shown progressive trends in the country’s export sector.
Based on a report from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), in 2025, Philippine exports grew more than 15 percent to a record US$84.48 billion, led by electronics and semiconductors.
To enhance this, Roque disclosed that DTI is looking towards boosting agricultural exports, capitalizing on rising global demand for products like ube and calamansi.
To support the move, the agency is currently working with regional offices to identify other potential export ‘stars’ which could increase Philippine exports to international markets.
“Beyond emerging products, growth will likely continue to be driven by traditional exports like electronics and semiconductors, machinery and transport equipment, and agricultural commodities such as coconut products and bananas,” Roque pointed out.
ia/xf
