The country’s mined metals production rose 14.8 percent to P219.74 billion in the first nine months this year, from P191.42 billion a year earlier, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) reported.
The MGB said the increase was driven by higher values of gold, silver, nickel ore, and iron ore.
Gold remained the top contributor, accounting for 53.4 percent of total output value at P117.42 billion, a 28.9 percent jump from last year. It was followed by nickel and its byproducts at P78.67 billion (up 3.2 percent) and copper at P20.3 billion (down 0.9 percent).
Combined output value of silver, chromite, and iron ore reached P3.36 billion, down 6.7 percent from 2024.
Production volumes were mixed. Gold output fell 5.3 percent while silver slid 10.3 percent. Iron ore surged 109.5 percent. Nickel ore volume dipped 0.6 percent, copper concentrate dropped 7.8 percent and chromite declined 30.1 percent. Mixed nickel-cobalt sulfide rose 3.7 percent, while scandium oxalate plunged 72.3 percent.
Despite uneven production trends, the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines said it maintains a “cautiously positive outlook” for the rest of 2025.
“With overall production value already ahead of last year… we expect the sector to maintain its momentum through year-end,” COMP chairman Michael Toledo said, noting stable operations among major mines even as nickel faces weak global prices.
Toledo added that copper remains a steady contributor but is still sensitive to global manufacturing trends. Overall, he said, the industry’s outlook is positive but measured, given price volatility and external risks.
