The Philippines' farm exports fell sharply in September, widening the country's agricultural trade deficit to its largest monthly gap since March, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Agricultural exports dropped 21.2 per cent from a year earlier to $642.11 million, down from $814.40 million in September 2025. Imports of farm products rose 4.2 per cent to $1.89 billion over the same period, leaving a trade deficit of $1.25 billion — up 24.8 per cent year on year and the widest monthly shortfall since March, when it stood at $1.26 billion.

A widening imbalance

Total agricultural trade fell 3.7 per cent to $2.53 billion from $2.63 billion a year earlier, as export receipts fell faster than imports grew. Farm exports accounted for just 25.3 per cent of total agricultural trade and 6.5 per cent of the country's overall exports for the month, while farm imports made up 74.7 per cent of agricultural trade and 12.6 per cent of total imports.

Edible fruits and nuts, including citrus peel and melon rind, remained the biggest export category at $229.55 million, about 36 per cent of all farm export earnings. The September deficit was also wider than August's $1.21 billion, underlining the country's persistent dependence on imported food and farm products.

Pressure on prices

The figures landed as the Philippines faces rising living costs. Headline inflation accelerated to 7.8 per cent in October, the second straight month of faster increases, and the Department of Agriculture has said the peso's slide will show up in imported rice prices from November. The widening farm trade gap adds to the pressure on a country that buys far more food abroad than it sells.

[Source: astig.ph](https://astig.ph/philippines-agri-trade-deficit-september-2026-1-25-billion/) | [Source: context.ph](https://context.ph/2026/11/06/philippine-agricultural-trade-deficit-widens-as-exports-slump/)