Mineral assets rise to P588 billion in 2025

MANILA, Philippines — The value of the country’s key mineral reserves rose to over P580 billion last year on the back of higher Class A gold reserves, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

In its latest report, the PSA said the value of reserves of Class A gold, copper, nickel and chromite reached P588.12 billion in 2025, a 17.6 percent increase from P500.2 billion in 2024.

The PSA said the total resource rent of the four minerals contributed P68.25 billion or 0.24 percent to the country’s gross domestic product last year.

Resource rent is the surplus value accumulated by the extractor asset, calculated after all costs and normal returns have been taken into account.

The country’s Class A gold assets were valued at P308.79 billion in 2025, 41.6 percent higher than the P218.04 billion a year prior.

The value of Class A copper reserves slightly increased to P60.5 billion from P60.39 billion in 2024.

Meanwhile, Class A nickel reserves declined by 1.2 percent to P217.74 billion in 2025 from P220.42 billion in 2024.

The value of the country’s chromite reserves, likewise, fell by 19.1 percent to P1.1 billion from P1.35 billion the previous year.

In terms of physical stocks, the country’s Class A gold assets declined by 4.9 percent to 371,260 kilos from 390,530 kilos in 2025.

“The extraction of gold also decreased by 2.7 percent to 19,550 kilos in 2025 from 20,110 kilos in 2024,” the PSA said.

Class A copper reserves fell by 1.1 percent to 4.14 million metric tons (MT) in 2025 from 4.18 million MT in 2025.

The PSA noted that Class A nickel stocks decreased to 632.79 million dry metric tons (DMT) in 2025, showing a  4.5 percent drop from 662.83 million DMT in 2024.

The country’s chromite stocks slipped to 66.29 million MT last year from 66.34 million MT in 2024.

Class A reserves are mineral resources proven to be economically viable, backed by a specific development project or operation.