Year-on-year import growth in the Philippines sharply accelerated in September 2026, with the value of inbound shipments rising 25.7% compared to the same month a year earlier. The latest reading, updated on 30 October 2026, marks a strong pickup from August 2026, when imports were up 16.6% year-on-year.
The data show that the momentum in external demand for goods entering the country strengthened notably over the late third-quarter period. While the August figure already pointed to solid import activity, the jump in September suggests a further expansion in trade flows, as measured by the year-over-year comparison with September of the previous year.
On a comparative basis, the “previous” indicator reflects August 2026 imports versus August a year earlier, while the “actual” September reading compares imports in September 2026 with those in September of the prior year. The widening gap between the two rates underlines a clear acceleration in import growth heading into the final quarter of 2026.
