Domestic trade in the Philippines continued to expand in the first quarter of 2026, reflecting sustained movement of goods across the country despite persistent regional trade imbalances driven by uneven production and consumption patterns.

The Philippine Competition Commission has warned rice importers against sharing sensitive trade information as it monitors compliance with the government’s temporary rice price cap, stressing that businesses must make independent market decisions to preserve fair competition.

Upson International Corp. improved retail productivity in 2025 despite ending the year with fewer stores, as stronger same-store sales and higher margins offset a network rationalization strategy, company president and chief executive officer Arlene Louisa Sy said.