Philippine FDI net inflows down 40% in October

Foreign direct investments (FDIs) — a key source of jobs and capital for the local economy — climbed to a three-month high in October 2025, even as they fell 40% from a year earlier, data released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed.

FDI net inflows stood at $642 million in October, the highest since the $1.271 billion in June. It is higher than the $320 million in September, but 39.8% lower than the $1.067 billion in October 2024.

Central bank data includes investments by nonresident direct investors in a Philippine enterprise, where the equity capital is at least 10%. It also includes investments made by nonresident subsidiaries or associates in its resident direct investor.

Equity capital placements, excluding reinvestment of earnings, grew 17.1% year-on-year to $117 million while reinvestment of earnings increased 11.3% to $88 million. Net debt instruments fell by 50.7% to $437 million.

This brought the year-to-date FDI net inflows to $6.179 billion, down by 24.5% from $8.184 billion in the comparable period of 2024.

Equity capital placements for the ten-month period came primarily from Japan, the United States, and Singapore, and were then channeled into manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, and real estate. —KG, GMA Integrated News