Philippine exports over the past twenty years have been characterized by remarkable growth and product and market diversification. In the mid-1960s, the Philippines was basically an agricultural and mineral exporter. But by the 1980s manufactured exports already accounted for more than half of total exports. Labor-intensive manufactured exports, of which garments and furniture are the prime examples, have accounted for an increasing share of the country's total export revenue. Moderate-capital and skill intensive exports, semi-conductors which fall in this category, have exhibited steady growth.

During the past twenty years, the share of natural resource based exports (coconut products, sugar, forest products and minerals) has declined while the share of manufactured exports grew. From January to October 2006, manufactured exports accounted for 9.23 percent of the total export trade. Manufactured exports include electronics, garments, textile yarns/fabrics, wood manufactures, furniture and processed food. A small percentage represents the contribution of agri-based non-manufactures like fresh foods and marine products.

A closer look at the country's non-traditional manufactures point to the semi-conductors, electronic data processing and garments accounting for a sizeable share of total exports from January to October 2006. Other commodities in the non-traditional manufacture category like woodcraft, toys and dolls, umbrellas and sunshades, and metal based packaging products also exhibited remarkable growth rates.

From January-October 2006, Taiwan was the sixth largest trading partner of the Philippines. Bilateral trade between the Philippines and Taiwan amounted to US$2.29 billion (5.91% of the Philippine’s total external trade) in 2006. Of which exports to Taiwan went down by 10.69% from US$782 million in 2005 to US$699 million in 2006, making Taiwan the eighth largest export market. On the other hand, Taiwan ranked as the Philippines’ fourth largest supplier of imports in 2006.

Being the closest of neighbors, the Philippines and Taiwan are doing their best to expand and deepen trade ties.

The Trade Group of the Department of Trade and Industry is responsible for the development, expansion and maintenance of the Philippines' export trade.

In Taiwan: