Tech demand boosts Philippine electronics exports outlook to $48 billion

December 29, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine electronic exports are on track to reach $48 billion this year, buoyed by strong demand for new technologies, the country’s umbrella group of electronics firms said.

“If I look at the numbers, we should hopefully be poised to hit $48 billion this year,” Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation Inc. (SEIPI) president Dan Lachica told reporters.

If realized, this would mark a 12-percent increase from last year’s $42.74 billion in electronic exports.

Last month, Lachica said SEIPI expects electronic exports to grow by five to seven percent this year, higher than an initial forecast of flat growth.

Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that electronic exports rose by 15.5 percent to $41.91 billion from January to November compared to last year’s $36.28 billion.

Lachica said the growth in electronic exports is supported by demand for advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things and electric vehicles.

“This is notwithstanding the geopolitical factors and even the US tariffs,” he said.

Currently, semiconductors and certain electronic exports are exempt from the reciprocal tariffs imposed by the US.

For next year, Lachica said SEIPI expects the country’s electronic exports to grow by five percent from 2025 numbers.

“All things considered, if we maintain the positive actions, we don’t get surprised with another hit in the reciprocal tariffs,  then there’s a possibility we can exceed 2022 or maybe reach $50 billion (next year),” he said.

Philippine electronic exports hit a record high of $49.09 billion in 2022.

To attract investments in the sector, SEIPI cited the need to restore investor confidence amid corruption issues in the government’s infrastructure projects.

“We’ve got to resolve these ghost projects, corruption,” Lachica said noting that corruption has become widespread and is not limited to the Department of Public Works and Highways.

“We need to get past that,” he said.

He also said that the conduct of investment roadshows, which were disrupted by the US’ announcement of reciprocal tariffs, is expected to help the electronics sector in promoting the country’s capabilities.

SEIPI is also hopeful that the government will start implementing the country’s semiconductor electronics roadmap.

In addition, SEIPI wants to see progress in its proposed semiconductor front-end wafer lab to the Department of Science and Technology.

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