Trade Gap Shrinks to $3.5 Billion in April

The country's trade deficit narrowed in April as exports rose while imports declined.

- By Louella Desiderio

Preliminary data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) yesterday showed that the balance of trade—the difference between exports and imports—amounted to a $3.49 billion deficit in April, 26 percent lower than the $4.73 billion gap in the same month in 2024.

The April trade shortfall is also down from the $4.51 billion deficit in the previous month.

The country's merchandise exports went up by seven percent to $6.75 billion in April from $6.30 billion in the same month a year ago.

Commodity groups with the biggest annual increases in exports were other manufactured goods with $497.54 million, fresh bananas with $30.56 million, and coconut oil with $28.47 million.