Outstanding foreign currency deposit unit (FCDU) loans fell to $15.439 billion at the end of March, down from $15.782 billion a year earlier and $15.561 billion at the end of December.
These loans, issued by domestic banks and local branches of foreign banks, serve both resident and nonresident borrowers who need foreign‑currency financing for payables and other obligations.
At the end of March, $8.25 billion represented new loans, while $8.36 billion were repaid during the quarter.
Philippine‑based borrowers accounted for $10.443 billion, or 67.6 % of the total, an increase from $9.909 billion a year earlier.
Exporters of merchandise and services received $2.75 billion (26.4 % of the total), while towing, tanker, trucking, forwarding, personal and other industries received $2.51 billion (24 %), and power generation firms received $1.85 billion (17.7 %).
Loans to nonresidents stood at $4.996 billion, 32.4 % of the total, down from $5.872 billion a year earlier and $5.17 billion at the end of December.
Seventy‑seven point one percent of the outstanding loans—$11.91 billion—had medium‑ to long‑term maturities, a slight decline from the previous year.
Short‑term loans totaled $3.529 billion, 22.2 % of the total, higher than the $3.243 billion recorded in December but lower than the $3.6 billion a year earlier.
Local banks provided 83.5 % of the loans, disbursing $12.891 billion, while foreign bank branches extended $2.548 billion, 16.5 % of the total.
FCDU deposit liabilities rose to $60.769 billion, up from $59.828 billion at the end of December, lowering the loans‑to‑deposits ratio to 25.4 % from 26 % in December and 26.8 % a year earlier.
