FDI inflows ease in November

Uncertainties over US trade policies and local political tensions continue to take their toll on the country as the net inflow of foreign direct investments slipped to a two-month low in November last year, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

- Keisha Ta-asan

BSP data showed that the net inflow of FDI retreated by 19.8 percent to $901 million in November last year from $1.12 billion in the same month a year ago.

It marked the lowest level since the $368 million inflows in September last year. On a monthly basis, FDI inflow declined by 11.8 percent from $1.02 billion in October 2024.

"The latest year-on-year and month-on-month decline in the latest FDI data in November 2024 could be attributed to uncertainties on possible protectionist measures by US President Trump," Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort said.

Ricafort said that Trump has been encouraging more investments and jobs in the US rather than in other countries, which could reduce FDI globally.