The 100 most valuable consumer products imported into the Philippines in 2020 generated a subtotal US$36.9 billion worth of international spending. The consumer-specific dollar amount represents 40.7% of the overall value of all goods imported into the Philippines ($90.8 billion).

The 5 most valuable consumer products imported into the Philippines during 2020 were processed petroleum oils, phones, computer parts or accessories, cars and coal.

The total dollar amount for the top 100 imported consumer products from the island nation nicknamed The Pearl of the Orient declined by -20.3% from 2019 to 2020. The top 100 consumer metric compares to a -19.6% drop for all Filipino-imported goods for the year.

Philippines’ purchases of imported products, both overall and for consumer goods, dropped at a much faster pace than the global average decline of -8.2% from 2019 to 2020 for all importing countries.

Among the top 100 consumer products imported by the Philippines, 27 increased in total value from 2019 to 2020 whereas 73 declined. Changes in Filipino consumer demand for essential imports offer future opportunities for international suppliers who correctly anticipate which upward or downward trends will continue.

Consumer Products Defined

Economics educator BoyceWire defines a consumer product as a final good or end product that a business creates for consumers to buy. For example, consumers often purchase refined petroleum oil at the gas station while imported crude oil is an intermediate good subject to further processing before being sold to end users.

Although there may be a few wealthy individual buyers, products like turbojets are excluded from the consumer products targeted by this study. That is because turbojets are usually purchased by corporations. In contrast, it is common for a consumer to buy a motorcycle.

Types of Consumer Products

This article focuses on 3 distinct consumer product types.

Convenience Products are easy to access, non-durable, have relatively lower prices and therefore consumers frequently purchase them. Examples of convenience products are food, alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks, and soap.

Shopping Products are not as easily available, involve more time to make a buying decision, are durable and are not bought as often as most convenience products. A great example of a shopping product is a mobile phone where buying the wrong model is a much more expensive mistake than buying a disappointing loaf of bread.

Speciality Products describe another consumer product type. This grey area includes infrequently purchased, expensive, durable and sometimes rare items. Consumers may consider the product’s brand image when making their purchase decisions. Some examples of speciality products are gold, silver, diamonds, jewelry, and branded refrigerators and dishwashers.

Most Valuable Filipino Imported Convenience Products

The list below showcases the most valuable imported convenience products on which buyers in the Philippines spent the most. Items were selected at the four-digit Harmonized System tariff classification code level and are presented in descending order.

You can also peruse the greatest increases or decreases in product values from 2019 to 2020 by focusing on the percentages displayed to the right of each product name.

1. Processed petroleum oils: US$4,441,939,000 (down -39.6%)
2. Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $1,478,354,000 (down -20.6%)
3. Medications: $1,311,971,000 (down -3.7%)
4. Rice: $862,013,000 (down -14.6%)
5. Other food preparations: $797,786,000 (up 0.01%)
6. Concentrated/sweetened milk, cream: $549,919,000 (up 4.7%)
7. Miscellaneous plastic items: $411,989,000 (down -0.8%)
8. Frozen beef: $357,177,000 (down -11.5%)
9. Whole fish (frozen): $345,606,000 (down -22.5%)
10. Plastic packing goods, lids, caps: $314,027,000 (down -5.8%)
11. Apples, pears (fresh): $300,547,000 (up 45%)
12. Poultry meat: $299,667,000 (down -4.8%)
13. Malt extract, food preparations: $247,585,000 (up 42.7%)
14. Other organic cleaning preparations: $222,533,000 (down -8.2%)
15. Corn: $212,516,000 (up 46%)
16. Bread, biscuits, cakes, pastries: $205,192,000 (up 5.7%)
17. Sauces, mixed condiments, seasoning: $170,690,000 (up 12%)
18. Fresh or dried citrus fruit: $170,262,000 (up 36.4%)
19. Uncoated paper for writing/printing: $159,940,000 (down -2.8%)
20. Oral/dental hygiene preparations: $147,686,000 (up 3.3%)
21. Red meat offal: $142,078,000 (down -45.6%)
22. Butter: $139,809,000 (down -26.3%)
23. Grapes (fresh or dried): $138,806,000 (up 19.2%)
24. Waters with added sugar: $133,859,000 (down -12.9%)
25. Swine meat: $128,240,000 (down -22.3%)
26. Cheese, curd: $124,902,000 (down -8.5%)
27. Plastic wares (table, kitchen, toiletry): $121,710,000 (down -15%)
28. Buttermilk, yogurt: $117,501,000 (up 5.6%)
29. Prepared vegetables (frozen): $114,412,000 (down -29.6%)
30. Chocolate, other cocoa preparations: $108,217,000 (down -14.1%)
31. Molasses: $101,179,000 (down -17.6%)
32. Provitamins, vitamins: $95,513,000 (up 1.2%)
33. Unsweetened milk/cream: $85,091,000 (down -5.6%)
34. Alcohol (including spirits, liqueurs): $82,305,000 (down -51.1%)
35. Coffee: $81,128,000 (up 11%)
36. Dried shelled vegetables: $73,672,000 (up 18%)
37. Sugar (cane or beet): $69,049,000 (down -38.5%)
38. Prepared cereal foods: $66,648,000 (down -12.8%)
39. Soya beans: $66,475,000 (down -14.8%)
40. Sugar confectionery (no cocoa): $66,400,000 (down -31.5%)

Convenience products led by the products listed above represent the Asian country’s second-most popular import product type attracting the Philippines’ international spending behind shopping products but ahead of speciality goods.

Non-durable consumer products are goods that are not re-used once consumed. Alcoholic beverages and bananas are examples of non-durable goods. Convenience products are uniquely non-durable consumer products.

Most Valuable Filipino Imported Shopping Products

Below, the list highlights the most valuable imported shopping products on which buyers in the Philippines spent the greatest amounts. Items were selected at the four-digit Harmonized System tariff classification code level and are presented from highest to lowest total amounts.

The percentages displayed to the right of each product name reveal the highest increases or decreases in Filipino spending on that specific type of shopping product from 2019 to 2020.

1. Phones: US$3,272,728,000 (down -0.1%)
2. Computer parts, accessories: $2,138,689,000 (down -3%)
3. Cars: $1,903,135,000 (down -38.8%)
4. Trucks: $1,143,270,000 (down -39.5%)
5. Insulated wire/cable: $1,048,166,000 (down -12.9%)
6. Motorcycles: $1,006,055,000 (down -30.2%)
7. Computers, optical readers: $859,017,000 (up 0.01%)
8. Electrical converters/power units: $729,863,000 (down -3.5%)
9. Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $641,238,000 (down -13.7%)
10. Coffee/tea extracts, concentrates: $534,348,000 (down -16.5%)
11. Printing machinery: $406,986,000 (down -66.9%)
12. Packaged insecticides, herbicides: $406,817,000 (up 11.5%)
13. Automobile parts/accessories: $308,696,000 (down -43.7%)
14. Miscellaneous furniture: $285,634,000 (down -27.7%)
15. Sanitary towels, baby napkins/liners: $254,783,000 (down -0.8%)
16. Hot-rolled iron/non-alloy steel items: $227,739,000 (down -28.4%)
17. Unrecorded sound media: $223,363,000 (down -59.4%)
18. Rubber tires (new): $214,702,000 (down -32.3%)
19. Motorcycle parts/accessories: $202,932,000 (down -38.5%)
20. Soap, organic surface-active goods: $183,700,000 (up 31.9%)
21. Hair preparations: $174,434,000 (down -1.9%)
22. Miscellaneous iron or steel items: $169,243,000 (down -18%)
23. Vulcanized rubber items: $168,918,000 (down -12.5%)
24. Microphones/headphones/amplifiers: $158,555,000 (down -19.6%)
25. Cases, handbags, wallets: $144,190,000 (down -46.5%)
26. Unused stamps including postage: $141,476,000 (up 239.9%)
27. Screws, bolts, washers, hooks, pins: $132,746,000 (down -8.1%)
28. Primary batteries/cells: $127,927,000 (up 11.8%)
29. Footwear (textile): $115,171,000 (down -40.2%)
30. Tractors: $111,577,000 (down -39.4%)
31. Models, puzzles, miscellaneous toys: $105,921,000 (down -39.5%)
32. Prepared glues, adhesives: $102,625,000 (down -10.5%)
33. Paper containers, cellulose wadding: $99,656,000 (down -8.5%)
34. Shaving preparations, deodorants: $96,117,000 (up 8.1%)
35. Glass bottles, other containers: $95,614,000 (down -13.5%)
36. Seats (not barber/dentist chairs): $84,261,000 (down -42.8%)
37. Miscellaneous textile items: $82,962,000 (up 212%)
38. Footwear (outer soles rubber/plastic): $80,714,000 (down -43.4%)
39. Video console games, table games: $75,705,000 (down -65%)
40. Brooms, brushes: $75,599,000 (down -9.2%)
41. Caps, lids, corks, pouring stoppers: $74,372,000 (down -9.1%)
42. Wrist/pocket watches (regular case): $68,104,000 (down -12.3%)

Focusing on the scope of this analysis, shopping products is the Philippines’ most popular category ahead of both convenience products and speciality items.

Shopping products exceeded two-fifths (42) of the overall top 100 Filipino imported consumer goods.

Durable consumer products are goods like cars, refrigerators and furniture that last a relatively long time. Consumers can put durable products to use again and again. Note that shopping products and speciality products are considered as durable consumer products.

Most Valuable Filipino Imported Speciality Products

Speciality products represent the category with the fewest entries among the Philippines’ imports that attracted the country’s spending on imported consumer goods during 2020.

Selected at the four-digit Harmonized System tariff classification code level, the most valuable speciality items are listed in descending order below.

The percentage to the right of each product name reveal highest increases or decreases in 2020 compared to 2019.

1. Electric storage batteries: US$390,745,000 (up 50.4%)
2. Refrigerators, freezers: $359,183,000 (down -13.5%)
3. Nitrogenous fertilizers: $354,680,000 (up 3.9%)
4. Air conditioners: $339,824,000 (down -23.7%)
5. Magnets including electro-magnets: $287,537,000 (up 22.2%)
6. Fertilizer mixes: $205,760,000 (down -5.3%)
7. Electric water heaters, hair dryers: $157,183,000 (down -25.9%)
8. Temperature-change machines: $156,427,000 (down -29.8%)
9. Electric generating sets, converters: $154,617,000 (down -13.5%)
10. Dishwashing, clean/dry/fill machines: $143,430,000 (up 2.3%)
11. Beauty/makeup/skin care: $129,942,000 (down -28.3%)
12. Liquid pumps: $129,346,000 (down -44.1%)
13. Prefabricated buildings: $128,220,000 (up 11.9%)
14. Washing machines: $92,877,000 (down -22.2%)
15. Coins excluding legal tender: $91,861,000 (down -30.8%)
16. Gold (unwrought): $88,161,000 (down -15.3%)
17. Bombs, grenades, mines, missiles: $85,203,000 (down -22%)
18. Interchangeable hand/machine tools: $79,182,000 (up 4.6%)

Like shopping products, speciality products are considered as durable consumer products.

Based on the product types identified in the sections above, 60 of the Philippines’ 100 highest-value consumer shopper plus speciality products are durable while the remaining 40 convenience products are classified as non-durable.

Overall Fastest-Growing Filipino Consumer Imports

Listed below are the top 10 consumer products imported into the Philippines that experienced the highest percentage increases in spending from 2019 to 2020.

1. Unused stamps including postage stamps: Up 239.9% ($141.5 million)
2. Miscellaneous textile items: Up 212% ($83 million)
3. Electric storage batteries: Up 50.4% ($390.7 million) 
4. Corn: Up 46% ($212.5 million)
5. Fresh apples and pears: Up 45% ($300.5 million)
6. Malt extract, food preparations: Up 42.7% ($247.6 million)
7. Fresh or dried citrus fruit: Up 36.4% ($170.3 million)
8. Soap, organic surface-active goods: Up 31.9% ($183.7 million)
9. Magnets including electro-magnets: Up 22.2% ($287.5 million)
10. Fresh or dried grapes: Up 19.2% ($138.8 million)

Among the above top 10 gainers, half are durable goods that consumers can re-use over time. Three of those durable items are shopping products specifically unused stamps, miscellaneous textile items and soap or organic surface-active goods. The 2 fastest-growing speciality products are electric storage batteries and magnets including electro-magnets, which also satisfy the technical definition for durable goods.

The fastest-growing convenience products are corn, fresh apples and pears, malt extract and food preparations, fresh or dried citrus fruits, and fresh or dried grapes. Consumers consider these items as non-durable products, commonly referred to as disposable goods and therefore are used only once.

Overall Worst-Declining Filipino Consumer Imports

Spending by buyers in the Philippines on the following 10 items decreased at the greatest pace from 2019 to 2020.

1. Printing machinery: Down -66.9% ($407 million)
2. Video console games, table games: Down -65% ($75.7 million)
3. Unrecorded sound media: Down -59.4% ($223.4 million)
4. Alcohol (including spirits, liqueurs): Down -51.1% ($82.3 million)
5. Cases, handbags, wallets: Down -46.5% ($144.2 million)
6. Red meat offal: Down -45.6% ($142.1 million)
7. Liquid pumps: Down -44.1% ($129.3 million)
8. Automobile parts or accessories: Down -43.7% ($308.7 million)
9. Footwear outer soles of rubber or plastic: Down -43.4% ($80.7 million)
10. Seats (excluding barber and dentist chairs): Down -42.8% ($84.3 million)

Two among the Philippines’ top 10 declining imports are non-durable convenience products consumed one time, specifically alcohol including spirits or liqueurs and red meat offal.

Seven among the remaining major import decliners are shopping products that normally require more time for consumers to make buying decisions. Purchases under the shopping products category are more likely to be deferred than convenience products. Examples of these shopping goods range from printing machinery to video console and table games.

The lone speciality product among the severest decliners was liquid pumps.

Key Suppliers by Country

This analysis reveals competitive suppliers that target Filipino demand for its top 5 consumer import products.

For the Philippines, the biggest imported consumer product by value is processed petroleum oils. The 4 other leading consumer products imported into the Philippines are phones including smartphones, computer parts or accessories, cars, and coal.

Below, you will find major supplying countries for the Philippines’ imported:

Processed petroleum oils: China (34.2% of total), Singapore (18.3%), South Korea (18.1%), Malaysia (11.2%), India (5.7%), United Arab Emirates (2.5%), Taiwan (2.4%), Thailand (1.5%), Qatar (1.3%), and Japan (0.8%).

Phones: China (65.2% of total), Hong Kong (9.5%), Singapore (7.2%), Vietnam (5.1%), Indonesia (2.3%), Japan (1.9%), United States (1.5%), Malaysia (1.2%), Taiwan (1%), and South Korea (0.9%).

Computer parts or accessories: Hong Kong (29.4% of total), Japan (25.4%), China (18.1%), Thailand (9.2%), Singapore (7.4%), Taiwan (5.6%), United States (1.8%), Vietnam (0.8%), Malaysia (0.7%), and South Korea (0.6%).

Cars: Indonesia (45.1% of total), Thailand (29.1%), China (8.7%), Japan (6.7%), India (2.1%), United States (2.0%), Germany (1.3%), South Korea (1.1%), Malaysia (1.0%), and Belgium (0.6%).

Coal: Indonesia (95.4% of total), Australia (1.6%), Russia (1.5%), Vietnam (1.4%) and China (0.02%).

See also

More great research: Philippines Main Imports by Top Supplier Countries, China’s Top 100 Imported Consumer Products, Japan’s Top 100 Imported Consumer Products, US Top 100 Imported Consumer Products

References

Independent insights and analysis presented in this article are based on researched facts and statistics sourced from the following educational portals.

BoyceWire, Consumer Goods Definition.

Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook: Philippines Economy.

International Trade Centre, Trade Map.

Investopedia, Consumer Goods, Consumer Staples Definition, Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG).

Trading Economics, Philippines Consumer Spending.

Wikipedia, List of largest consumer markets.

World’s Top Exports, Philippines Top 10 Imports.