FDI net inflows slip to three-month low in March

Foreign direct investments (FDI) into the Philippines fell for the second straight month in March to mark the lowest level in three months, data released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on Tuesday showed.

The central bank said FDI net inflows stood at $498 million in March, down from $533 million in February and 27.8% lower than the $689 million in the same month last year.

“The said decline resulted from lower net inflows across all major FDI components,” the BSP said in a statement, with nonresidents’ net investments in debt instruments down 31.6% to $329 million and investments in equity capital and their reinvestment of earnings down 27.4% to $102 million.

Equity capital placements for the month were channeled largely into real estate, manufacturing, financial and insurance, and administrative and support services industries.

Singapore was the biggest country source with 25%, followed by Japan with 24%, the United States with 20%, South Korea with 9%, and Malaysia with 5%.

FDI net inflows for the year so far totaled $1.761 billion, which is lower than the $2.990 billion reported during the same period in 2024.

Japan was the biggest source for the quarter with 42%, followed by the United States with 17%, Singapore with 14%, and Malaysia and South Korea with 6% each. —VBL, GMA Integrated News