All told, the Philippines sold US$581.7 million worth of exported goods to Canadian importers during 2018. That amount represents an 11% increase from the $523.9 million in Philippine sales to Canada earlier in 2016.
In contrast, imports of Canadian products into the Philippines amounted to $818.7 million, -$237 million less than the tally for exports from the Philippines to Canada. Filipino purchases of Canada’s exported goods almost doubled from $418 million in 2016 nailing down a 95.9% uptick.
Top 10 Filipino Exports with Canada
The following major export products represent almost three-quarters (72%) of total shipments from the Philippines to Canada. Shown within parenthesis is the corresponding percentage value for each product in 2018.
- Insulated wire/cable: US$235.5 million (40.5% of Filipino-to-Canada exports)
- Copper ores, concentrates: $66 million (11.3%)
- Integrated circuits/microassemblies: $34.8 million (6%)
- Locks, lock-keys: $19.3 million (3.3%)
- Coconuts: $15.7 million (2.7%)
- Printing machinery: $12.1 million (2.1%)
- Miscellaneous preserved fruits: $11 million (1.9%)
- Bread, biscuits, cakes, pastries: $8.9 million (1.5%)
- Fruit and vegetable juices: $7.9 million (1.4%)
- Cases, handbags, wallets: $7.7 million (1.3%)
Printing machinery represents the fastest-growing Filipino export to Canada. That product category expanded in value by 9,526% from $126,000 in 2016.
In second place was integrated circuits and microassemblies, which accelerated by 156.7%. Filipino locks and lock-keys finished third via its 110.7% appreciation, trailed by cases, handbags and wallets with a 44.3% uptick.
Two top product categories declined from 2016 to 2018 namely the largest category insulated wire or cable (down -22.6%) and miscellaneous preserved fruits (down -15.7%).
Top 10 Filipino Imports from Canada
Major Canadian exports to the Philippines range from traditional goods like wood and wheat to advanced technical products for aerospace industries.
- Sawn wood: US$149.6 million (18.3% of Filipino imports from Canada)
- Aircraft, spacecraft: $120.5 million (14.7%)
- Wheat: $82.3 million (10%)
- Swine meat: $68 million (8.3%)
- Wood carpentry, builders’ joinery: $36.5 million (4.5%)
- Copper ores, concentrates: $31.1 million (3.8%)
- Iron ores, concentrates: $30.2 million (3.7%)
- Coins: $28.2 million (3.4%)
- Potassic fertilizers: $25 million (3%)
- Poultry meat: $23.3 million (2.9%)
Six Canadian products imported into the Philippines grew in value from 2016 to 2018. Four among these accelerated by triple-digits: wheat (up 296.8%), iron ores and concentrates (up 227.4%), sawn wood (up 110%) then swine meat (up 103.8%).
Philippine import purchases of Canadian poultry improved by a more tepid 31.6% over the three-year period, but still ahead of the 4.5% gain for potassic fertilizers.
Wood carpentry and builders’ joinery posted the severest decline among the top exports from Canada to the Philippines, down by -22.1% since 2016.
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook, Field Listing: Exports. Accessed on April 8, 2019
Trade Map, International Trade Centre, www.intracen.org/marketanalysis. Accessed on April 8, 2019