Foreign direct investment (FDI) into the country reached US$320 million in September 2025, with Japan remaining the largest investor and manufacturing as the top recipient sector, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said on Wednesday.
From January to September 2025, total FDI inflows rose to US$5.5 billion, equivalent to 1.6 percent of the country’s GDPfor the period. Most equity investments came from Japan, the United States, and Singapore, flowing mainly into manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, and real estate.
Although the report does not include new unemployment figures, the continued rise in FDIs—especially into labor-intensive sectors like manufacturing and retail—signals potential job creation and improved hiring prospects. Higher investment inflows typically support business expansion, which can help reduce unemployment over time.
The BSP emphasized that its FDI data track actual investment flows, unlike PSA-reported approved investments, which represent commitments that may not fully materialize.
FDI inflows into the ASEAN total US$224 billion, according to a United Nations Trade and Development report as well as the government think-tank the Philippine Institute for Development Studies published earlier.
Singapore receives the bulk of the investments while the smaller ASEAN economies report inflows indicating sensitivity to global economic conditions, investor sentiment and domestic conditions.
