Philippine Agriculture Grows 1.9% in Q1 2025, Rebounding from Year of Decline

The Philippines’ agricultural sector showed signs of recovery in the first quarter of 2025, posting a 1.9% growth in production value after three consecutive quarters of contraction due to last year’s weather disruptions.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the total value of agricultural and fisheries production reached ₱437.74 billion in Q1 2025. This marks a rebound from the 2.2% decline in Q4 2024 and deeper drops in the second and third quarters of last year.

Crops, making up 57% of total production at ₱249.61 billion, grew by 1.0%. Tobacco led the gains with an 80.4% surge, followed by cacao (23.6%), sugarcane (19.0%), rubber (13.6%), and mongo (10.1%). Palay, or unmilled rice, rose modestly by 0.3%—its first quarterly increase after a full year of declines.

Poultry output soared 9.4% year-on-year, reaching ₱75.22 billion. Chicken and egg production both posted strong growth at 8.7% and 12.1% respectively. Duck production inched up 1.5%, though duck egg output dipped 2.2%.

Livestock output fell 2.8% to ₱57.82 billion, with declines in hog and carabao production dragging the segment down.

Fisheries contributed ₱55.10 billion, rising 1.5% from the previous year. Among the top gainers were slipmouth (21.0%), mudcrab (20.0%), Indian mackerel (14.5%), and milkfish (7.8%).

Despite the quarterly growth, the USDA has maintained its forecast that the Philippines will remain the world’s largest rice importer in 2025.