Central Visayas has emerged as one of the Philippines' strongest trading hubs in the first quarter of 2026, recording the second-highest domestic trade outflow value and the second-largest favorable trade balance nationwide, even as overall domestic trade slowed down.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) revealed that the total value of domestic trade in the country declined by 19.8 percent year-on-year to P820.81 billion in the January-to-March period, down from P1.02 trillion in the same period last year. The drop was largely driven by weaker water-based trade activity.
Despite the national downturn, Central Visayas stood out with traded commodities worth P100.50 billion, accounting for 12.2 percent of the country's total domestic trade value during the quarter. This made the region the second-largest source of traded goods by value, trailing only Calabarzon, which posted P331.62 billion.
The region also achieved the second-highest favorable trade balance in the country at P74.37 billion, meaning the value of goods shipped out from Central Visayas far exceeded the value of goods entering the region. Calabarzon recorded the highest positive trade balance at P247.82 billion. A favorable trade balance indicates strong production and distribution activity, as the region supplies more goods to other parts of the country than it receives.
National Trade Trends
Nationally, road transport remained the primary mode for domestic trade, accounting for 64.1 percent of total trade value. Water transport followed at 35.8 percent, while air transport contributed only 0.1 percent.
Among commodities, machinery and electrical equipment recorded the highest trade value nationwide at P200.96 billion, representing 24.5 percent of total domestic trade value. This was followed by optical and medical instruments worth P118.70 billion and processed food, beverages, and tobacco products valued at P117.36 billion.
Trade Volume Declines
In terms of trade volume, the country's domestic trade fell 35.3 percent year-on-year to 10.17 million tons in the first quarter, compared to 15.72 million tons in the same period last year. Road transport accounted for the largest share of volume at 50.6 percent, closely followed by water transport at 49.3 percent.
