FDI net inflows reach $498 million in March

MANILA -- The Philippines saw $498 million in net inflows of foreign direct investments in March, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. (BSP).

This number is 27.8 percent lower than the $689 million seen in the same period in 2024. 

The central bank said this is because of nonresidents’ net investments in debt instruments dropping by 31.6 percent to $329 million from $481 million in the same month last year.

Nonresidents’ net investments in equity capital also fell by 27.4 percent to $102 million, and reinvestment of earnings also dipped 1.2 percent to $66 million.

Equity capital placements in March mostly came from Singapore, Japan, the United States, South Korea, and Malaysia. These were primarily invested in real estate, manufacturing, financial and insurance, and administrative and support services industries.

The Philippines has been a laggard among its peers in Southeast Asia in terms of attracting foreign direct investments. The government has been hoping that a raft of reforms aimed at further opening the economy to foreign investors would help the country catch up to its neighbors.

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