The Philippines’ garment exports are projected to reach $1 billion this year, an 11-percent increase from last year, despite the 19-percent US reciprocal tariffs imposed in August, according to the Foreign Buyers Association of the Philippines (FOBAP).
FOBAP President Robert Young credited the growth to advanced shipments, as foreign buyers frontloaded imports to mitigate the impact of the tariffs.
Nearly half of the country’s exports to the US are now tariff-free, and the industry hopes for more exemptions or tariff reductions in the coming year.
Looking ahead, FOBAP expects garment exports to grow by 2 to 5 percent in 2026, while also exploring other markets like Canada, Australia, the EU, and ASEAN to offset global trade uncertainties.
The group is seeking government support to improve competitiveness, including subsidies for rising power and labor costs, with a long-term goal of reaching $5 billion in garment export revenue within the next two to four years.
Source: PhilNews24 | December 15, 2025
Latest from Business
The Department of Energy (DOE) has relaunched the coal auction for the Semirara mine in Antique,
Converge ICT Solutions Inc. is facing challenges in acquiring and retaining low-income subscribers as rising inflation
Business name registrations with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) increased by 6.5 percent to
The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) recorded a 15-percent increase in profit to P10.59 billion in the
Converge Information and Communications Technology Solutions Inc. reported a four percent increase in consolidated revenues to
