Colliers | Market Intelligence | Philippines March 23, 2022 (2024)

FDI hits all-time high $10.5B in 2021

SUMMARY

Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) or the central bank showed that foreign direct investments (FDI) reached an all-time high in 2021 as inflows totaled USD10.5 billion, a 54% increase from USD6.8 billion in 2020. The growth in FDI reflects the improving investor sentiment, recovering global economy, and declining Covid-19 cases worldwide. The recently enacted Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) law also helped raise the attractiveness of the Philippines to foreign investors through lower corporate income taxes. The manufacturing, electricity, gas, steam and air-conditioning, and financial and insurance sectors received majority of the foreign investments. Top investing countries include Singapore, Japan, the United States, and the Netherlands. The central bank projects FDI inflows to reach USD8.5 billion in 2022.

RESEARCH VIEW

The manufacturing sector continues to be the biggest recipient of foreign investments in the Philippines. In 2021, manufacturing investments reached USD550.8 million, down 27% from USD754.0 million in 2020. In our view, this will likely support industrial park and warehouse space absorption post-Covid-19 especially in the Cavite–Laguna–Batangas (CALABA) corridor. Colliers has noted several manufacturing firms from different industries such as transportation equipment and health-related products eyeing to expand in the Philippines. Colliers recommends that industrial park operators highlight the advantages of locating within Philippine ecozones and the ease of doing business in the country. These include reforms to business-permit processing, improving infrastructure network, and reduced corporate income taxes brought about by CREATE law.

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Jan. remittances up despite virus surge

SUMMARY

Overseas Filipino workers’ (OFW) remittances increased for 11th straight month in January. Data from the BSP revealed that remittances rose by 2.5% to USD2.7 billion in January 2022 from USD2.6 billion recorded a year ago. The 10 largest sources of remittances during the month include the United States. Singapore, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Canada, Taiwan, Qatar, and Malaysia. Analysts are optimistic that remittances will continue to increase as more economies reopen, resulting in more job opportunities abroad.

RESEARCH VIEW

More Filipinos are now being deployed abroad as traditional OFW destinations start to reopen. Colliers believes that remittances will continue to fuel consumer spending in the Philippines. The stable inflow of money from Filipinos working abroad should sustain consumer confidence, which should positively influence retail spending. Colliers believes that rising disposable incomes and rebound in consumer traffic in malls play a pivotal role in improving physical mall space absorption across the country. Colliers is also optimistic that remittances will continue to drive take up for affordable to mid-income residential projects with price per unit ranging from PHP1.7 million to PHP6 million.

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Colliers | Market Intelligence | Philippines March 23, 2022 (2024)

FAQs

What is the top FDI country in the Philippines? ›

In 2022, the leading foreign investor in the Philippines was Singapore, with investments amounting to approximately 131 billion Philippine pesos.

Which countries invest in the Philippines? ›

The stock of FDI also increased in 2021, reaching USD 113 billion. The United States, China, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and Japan are traditionally the main investors, while inflows are concentrated in the transportation and storage, electricity, real estate, manufacturing, and construction.

Who are the top 5 foreign investors in the Philippines? ›

Top investing countries include Singapore, Japan, the United States, and the Netherlands. The central bank projects FDI inflows to reach USD8. 5 billion in 2022. The manufacturing sector continues to be the biggest recipient of foreign investments in the Philippines.

Why is real estate important in the Philippines? ›

The Philippines Offers an Affordable Entry Cost to Real Estate Compared to Other Nations. Enjoy Passive Income via Rentvestment Opportunities in the Metro. Enables You to Diversify Your Investment Portfolio in a Developing Industry. The Value of Real Estate Provides Long-Term ROI.

What is the US FDI in the Philippines? ›

U.S. foreign direct investment (FDI) in Philippines (stock) was $5.2 billion in 2020, a 7.4 percent decrease from 2019. U.S. direct investment in Philippines is led by manufacturing, professional, scientific, and technical services, and wholesale trade.

Who are the 5 largest investors of foreign direct investment? ›

According to the latest results of our Coordinated Direct Investment Survey , and as shown in our Chart of the Week, the world's top ten recipients of foreign direct investment by end-2020 were the United States, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, China, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong SAR, Singapore, Switzerland, Ireland, and ...

Can a US citizen invest in the Philippines? ›

The Philippines Board of Investments (BOI)created the SIRV to attract foreign investors. Visa applicants must invest at least $75,000 in a qualified local business. A SIRV allows investors to live in the Philippines long-term and provides other benefits, such as tax breaks and additional services.

What does the US import from Philippines? ›

United States Imports from PhilippinesValueYear
Oil seed, oleagic fruits, grain, seed, fruits$22.40M2022
Paper and paperboard, articles of pulp, paper and board$20.85M2022
Ceramic products$17.58M2022
Wadding, felt, nonwovens, yarns, twine, cordage$17.48M2022
92 more rows

Who did the US buy the Philippines from and for how much money? ›

Representatives of Spain and the United States signed a peace treaty in Paris on December 10, 1898, which established the independence of Cuba, ceded Puerto Rico and Guam to the United States, and allowed the victorious power to purchase the Philippines Islands from Spain for $20 million.

Who is the biggest foreign investor in US? ›

The main investing countries in the U.S. are Japan, Germany, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland and France. Most of these investments are in manufacturing, financial and insurance activities, and trade and maintenance. In 2021, California received the most investment, followed by Massachusetts and New York (BEA).

Who is Philippines largest trading partner? ›

At the end of 2021, China had been the Philippines' largest trading partner for six consecutive years, and its second-largest export market.

Does China invest in Philippines? ›

The role of the Philippines in the Belt and Road Initiative. The recent shift in China-Philippines ties has led to several bilateral cooperation agreements and projects valued at billions of dollars and strongly supported by Chinese investments.

Can Americans own real estate in the Philippines? ›

Foreigners are prohibited from owning land in the Philippines, but can legally own a residence. The Philippine Condominium Act allows foreigners to own condo units, as long as 60% of the building is owned by Filipinos. If you want to buy a house, consider a long-term lease agreement with a Filipino landowner.

Is buying property in Philippines a good investment? ›

The Philippines Has the Least Expensive Real Estate in the World. The presence of many well-funded developers in the Philippines makes the investment better. Both licensed and non-licensed investors can take part in the real estate market. Brokers without a license can also take part in the pre-sale option.

Why is Philippines the best place to live in? ›

There are many reasons why expats choose to move to the Philippines: The cost of living in the Philippines is only a fraction of the price in the US or Western Europe. Filipino people are some of the friendliest warm-hearted people you will ever meet. Most Filipinos, especially anyone younger than 40, speak English.

Can foreigners own 100 business in the Philippines? ›

100% foreign ownership is allowed for Philippine retail trade enterprises: (a) with paid-up capital of USD 2,500,000.00 or more provided that investments for establishing a store is not less than USD 830,000.00; or (b) specializing in high end or luxury products, provided that the paid-up capital per store is not less ...

What are the cons of foreign investment in the Philippines? ›

Restrictions on foreign ownership, inadequate public investment in infrastructure, and lack of transparency in procurement tenders hinder foreign investment. The Philippines' regulatory regime remains ambiguous in many sectors of the economy, and corruption is a significant problem.

What is the economy of Philippines? ›

The Philippine economy is the world's 36th largest by nominal GDP and 15th largest in Asia according to the International Monetary Fund in 2023. Metro Manila, the economic center of the Philippines. $440.9 billion (nominal; 2023 est.) $1.29 trillion (PPP; 2023 est.)

Where does the US invest most of its money? ›

Foreign direct investment in the United States was concentrated in the U.S. manufacturing sector, which accounted for 42.4 percent of the position. There was also sizable investment in finance and insurance (12.5 percent) and wholesale trade (9.7 percent).

Which country is the biggest investor in China? ›

The United States is the top destination in the world for Chinese FDI, drawing in $183.2 billion, or 15 percent of China's total outflows, between 2005 and 2019.

Which country is best to invest money? ›

By analyzing these countries, investors can make informed decisions and increase their chances of success.
  1. United States. The United States is widely considered the best country to invest in. ...
  2. Singapore. It is true that all investors love Singapore. ...
  3. China. ...
  4. Canada. ...
  5. United Arab Emirates. ...
  6. Thailand. ...
  7. India.
Apr 6, 2023

Can a US citizen have a bank account in the Philippines? ›

Who can open a bank account in the Philippines? Anyone can open a bank account in the Philippines. In the past, non-residents, including those holding a temporary visitor's visa, couldonly open a foreign currency deposit account, or a peso account funded by foreign currency deposits converted to peso.

How much money can I take to Philippines from USA? ›

A person may freely bring into or take out of the Philippines foreign currency and other bearer monetary instruments (e.g., travelers' checks, other checks, drafts, notes, money orders, bonds) in amounts up to USD10,000 or its equivalent in other foreign currencies.

Why did the US want the Philippines? ›

Americans who advocated annexation evinced a variety of motivations: desire for commercial opportunities in Asia, concern that the Filipinos were incapable of self-rule, and fear that if the United States did not take control of the islands, another power (such as Germany or Japan) might do so.

What is the Philippines top export to the US? ›

Trade In August 2021, the top exports of Philippines to United States were Commodities not elsewhere specified ($193M), Computers ($85.5M), Integrated Circuits ($80.8M), Electrical Transformers ($54.9M), and Insulated Wire ($48.3M).

How much does the Philippines owe the US? ›

Philippines External Debt 1970-2023
Philippines External Debt - Historical Data
YearCurrent US $Annual % Change
2021$106,427,962,6108.06%
2020$98,493,687,90317.78%
2019$83,625,343,9015.90%
49 more rows

Did the US pay $20 million for the Philippines? ›

Spanish commissioners argued that Manila had surrendered after the armistice and therefore the Philippines could not be demanded as a war conquest, but they eventually yielded because they had no other choice, and the U.S. ultimately paid Spain 20 million dollars for possession of the Philippines.

What was the Philippines called before? ›

The Philippines were claimed in the name of Spain in 1521 by Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer sailing for Spain, who named the islands after King Philip II of Spain. They were then called Las Felipinas.

Who is America's most famous investor? ›

Referred to as the “Oracle of Omaha,” Warren Buffett is viewed as one of the most successful investors in history.

Who are the richest stock investors in USA? ›

The story of the top 5 richest investors in the world
  • Warren Buffett. Net worth: $103 Billion. Founder & CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. ...
  • Jim Simons. Net worth: $28.6 Billion. Founder of RenTech, a quantitative hedge fund. ...
  • Ken Griffin. Net worth: $27 Billion. ...
  • Ray Dalio. Net worth: $22 Billion. ...
  • Carl Icahn. Net worth: $17.5 Billion.
Apr 17, 2023

Who is the most successful investor in the world? ›

Warren Buffett – a student and then colleague of Graham's, Buffett is the most famous investor of all time. Through his fund management arm, Berkshire Hathaway, he has built a large following of everyday investors and further developed Graham's philosophy of value investment.

What is the biggest Filipino company? ›

In 2022, BDO Unibank was the largest company in the Philippines in terms of assets, with a value of approximately 69.48 billion U.S. dollars. The Metropolitan Bank and Trust came second with an asset value of about 49.11 billion U.S. dollars.

Who owns most of the businesses in the Philippines? ›

The Top 12 Most Successful Entrepreneurs in the Philippines
  • Henry Sy (Shoe Mart)
  • Tony Tan Caktiong (Jollibee Foods)
  • Socorro Ramos (National Book Store)
  • John Gokongwei Jr. (J.G. Holdings)
  • Edgar Sia (Mang Inasal)
  • Mariano Que (Mercury Drug)
  • Cresida Tueres (Greenwich Pizza)
  • Cecilio Kwok Pedro (Lamoiyan Corporation)
Feb 21, 2023

What is the Philippines the world's largest supplier of? ›

The Philippines is one of the world's largest producers of coconuts.

Does China have debt to Philippines? ›

MANILA, Philippines — China's loan commitments to the Philippines have reached $1.1 billion, or close to P59 billion, after the Duterte administration received its first-ever financing in Chinese renminbi.

Does Philippines rely on China? ›

For the Philippines, China is a vital economic partner that it must constantly deal with to gain financial benefits for the sake of its national development.

Does Philippines get oil from China? ›

Philippines Imports from China of Mineral fuels, oils, distillation products was US$2.4 Billion during 2022, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade.

How many hectares can a US citizen own in the Philippines? ›

Up to 5,000 square meters of urban land. Up to three (3) hectares of rural land.

Can a US citizen inherit land in the Philippines? ›

Simply put, Section 7 allows a foreign national to inherit a property in the Philippines only when the inheritance is by operation of law and not through a last will and testament.

Can a former Filipino buy a house and lot in the Philippines? ›

Former natural-born Filipinos can own land in the Philippines, subject to limitations prescribed by Philippine Republic Act 8179 (for residence purposes- up to 1000 square meters of urban land or one hectare of rural land) and Batas Pambansa 185 (for business or investment purposes 5000 square meters of urban land or ...

How much salary do you need to buy a house in the Philippines? ›

To afford a property worth PHP 2 million, you need to have a monthly salary of around PHP 67,000. Assuming that you can put down a 20% down payment of PHP 400,000, you will need to finance the remaining amount of PHP 1.6 million through a bank loan.

Is it better to buy or rent in the Philippines? ›

Renting provides you with greater freedom. As a renter, you have the freedom to move from house to house and neighborhood to neighborhood after your lease ends. Because of the high expenses connected with purchasing and selling a home, you have less freedom when deciding to move.

What are the disadvantages of owning a house in the Philippines? ›

Disadvantages of Buying a House and Lot
  • More Difficult and Costly to Maintain. With a house and lot ownership, you have total control over your property. ...
  • Higher Utility Bills. Having a larger living space comes with a drawback: higher electricity and water consumption. ...
  • Long Commutes.
Jul 13, 2020

Where do most Philippines live in USA? ›

General demographics
Metropolitan areaPopulation
Los Angeles, California495,000
San Francisco, California305,000
New York, New York241,000
Honolulu, Hawaii211,000
6 more rows

How many Americans live in Philippines? ›

The most recent BSD took place in January 2023 when senior Philippine and U.S. foreign affairs and defense officials convened in Manila. More than four million Filipino-Americans live in the United States, and almost 300,000 U.S. citizens reside in the Philippines, including a large number of U.S. military veterans.

Is the Philippines a good place for Americans to retire? ›

9. Lower cost of living. The Philippines is a very affordable destination for expatriates, especially those thinking of retiring there. You can get accomodation at a very low cost and support services such as personal assistants and cleaning help are very cheap.

What is the largest source of foreign exchange in the Philippines? ›

The United States was the largest export market of the Philippines, with 15.9% of total exports value in 2021. It was followed by China, a very close second, which accounted for 15.5%.

Which country has the highest FDI rate? ›

FDI in Figures April 2023

Nevertheless, the United States and China were the top two FDI destinations worldwide in 2022, followed by Brazil, receiving peak level of inflows partly due to increased reinvestment of earnings.

Which country is the largest for FDI? ›

Download Table Data
Country2023 Population
India1,428,627,663
China1,425,671,352
United States339,996,563
Indonesia277,534,122
222 more rows

What is the status of FDI in the Philippines? ›

Philippines Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) increased by 447.6 USD mn in Jan 2023, compared with an increase of 634.3 USD mn in the previous month.

What is the Philippines top exports to US? ›

Philippines Exports to United StatesValueYear
Machinery, nuclear reactors, boilers$1.87B2022
Articles of leather, animal gut, harness, travel good$560.29M2022
Optical, photo, technical, medical apparatus$454.79M2022
Animal, vegetable fats and oils, cleavage products$443.77M2022
93 more rows

Which country invests most in USA? ›

The main investing countries in the U.S. are Japan, Germany, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland and France. Most of these investments are in manufacturing, financial and insurance activities, and trade and maintenance. In 2021, California received the most investment, followed by Massachusetts and New York (BEA).

Does the US invest in other countries? ›

US direct investment abroad provides domestic companies many opportunities to expand their business and take advantage of favorable circ*mstances in foreign countries. These include lower rates of taxation, closer access to markets, and lower wages.

Who is China's largest foreign investor? ›

Singapore and China are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the establishment of our diplomatic relations in 2020. Since 2013, China has been Singapore's largest trading partner, and Singapore has been China's largest foreign investor.

Who is the largest investor in the United States? ›

1. Warren Buffett. As one of the world's wealthiest investors, Warren Buffett almost needs no introduction. He's CEO and chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, a $665 billion conglomerate that acts as the holding company for Buffett's investments, both its wholly-owned companies and its stocks.

Which country has the most investors? ›

10 Countries That Receive the Most Foreign Direct Investment
  • U.S.
  • U.K.
  • China.
  • Netherlands.
  • Ireland.
  • Brazil.
  • Singapore.
  • Germany.
Dec 19, 2019

Why do foreigners invest in the Philippines? ›

With its solid economic performance, business-friendly economy and policies, high-quality human labor, as well as rich natural resources, the Philippines is the best country for investments in Southeast Asia.

What is the Philippines negative investment list? ›

The Foreign Investment Negative List, or Negative List, is a list of economic sectors where foreign ownership and participation in the Philippines are regulated. It contains two component lists: List A and List B.

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