Partnership with US seen helping PHL move up critical minerals value chain

By Justine Irish D. Tabile, Senior Reporter

THE Philippine critical minerals industry is expected to move up the value chain due to its partnership with the US, business groups said.

“The critical minerals agreement will provide a pathway for the Philippines for more value-added mineral processing,” Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Ferdinand A. Ferrer said via Viber.

The agreement is also expected to help the Philippines join the critical minerals supply chain alongside Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and other Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries.

Additional benefits include technology transfer and higher-skill jobs, he said.

“In the future, this will also benefit new semiconductor processes, renewable energy, and electric vehicle sectors,” he added.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the US to support the development of critical minerals and rare earths in the Philippines.

“The MoU aims to advance Philippine economic policy away from the export of raw mineral ores toward increased domestic processing and value addition, supporting the country’s integration into global supply chains,” the DENR said.

The MoU was signed on the sidelines of the 2026 Critical Minerals ministerial meeting on Feb. 4.

The Philippines exported $7.13 billion worth of minerals and mineral products in 2025. This accounted for 8.4% of merchandise exports, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported, citing preliminary data.

Last year, merchandise exports amounted to $84.41 billion, up 15.2%.

Chamber of Mines of the Philippines Chairman Michael T. Toledo said the partnership will help in strengthen responsible mining and sustainable resource development.

“We see this as an opportunity to attract investment, promote technology transfer, and reinforce high environmental standards while supporting economic growth and local communities,” he said via text message.

“We look forward to working closely with government and stakeholders to ensure that the benefits of this cooperation are realized responsibly and inclusively,” he added. 

This year, the Department of Trade and Industry is hoping to see improved exports, despite worries that the front-loading of shipments to beat a US tariff deadline, which drove exports last year, will not be replicated in 2026.

“We have the free trade agreements (FTAs), and with those we can really boost our exports,” Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina A. Roque told reporters last week.

“Those give confidence to the different industries to really pursue different countries and we are really joining trade shows abroad,” she added.

She also noted the opening of the Likhang Filipino Exhibition Halls, which she said present possibilities for exports.

“Because of ASEAN 2026, a lot of the trade ministers are coming here so we are bringing them to those places also so that they can see the products of the Philippines,” she said.

“They will also be meeting with a lot of businessmen here so we are really hoping for better numbers actually this year,” she added.