The estimated value of Philippine metallic mineral production rose by 28.6 percent in the first quarter of 2026, as higher metal prices and increased nickel ore shipments offset lower output from several major commodities, according to data from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau.
Total metallic mineral production was valued at PHP82.78 billion during the January-to-March period, up from PHP64.35 billion in the same period last year.
Gold remained the country's top metallic mineral commodity by value, generating PHP53.78 billion despite production declining by 24.7 percent to 5,850 kilograms from 7,769 kilograms a year earlier. The value of gold output increased by 31.2 percent from PHP41 billion, reflecting stronger market prices.
The Masbate Gold Project operated by Filminera Mining Corp. and Philippine Gold Processing & Refining Corp. remained the largest gold producer during the quarter, producing 1,646 kilograms valued at PHP14.75 billion.
Silver production also declined, falling 20.9 percent to 9,896 kilograms from 12,513 kilograms in the same period last year. However, the value of silver production surged by 82.7 percent to PHP1.35 billion from PHP738.9 million.
Copper output weakened during the quarter, with copper concentrate production dropping 19.4 percent to 47,920 dry metric tons from 59,423 dry metric tons. The estimated value of copper concentrate production declined 7.4 percent to PHP6.36 billion.
Copper metal equivalent production likewise fell 22.3 percent to 9,201 metric tons from 11,839 metric tons.
The Didipio Copper-Gold Project in Nueva Vizcaya, operated by OceanaGold Philippines Inc., remained the country's largest producer of copper concentrate, accounting for 15,844 dry metric tons valued at PHP2.44 billion.
Nickel continued to contribute significantly to the sector's overall value.
Production of mixed nickel-cobalt sulfide declined 8.3 percent to 16,711 dry metric tons from 18,233 dry metric tons. Despite the lower output, the value of production increased 22.1 percent to PHP10.13 billion from PHP8.30 billion.
Direct shipping nickel ore posted the strongest gains among the major mineral commodities. Output increased 59.7 percent to 4.58 million dry metric tons from 2.87 million dry metric tons, while production value rose 52.4 percent to PHP10.69 billion from PHP7.01 billion.
Among the major contributors were Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corp. in Palawan, which increased production to 1.18 million dry metric tons from 666,032 dry metric tons a year earlier, and several nickel operations in Zambales and Eastern Samar that also recorded substantial increases.
Chromite production rose 25.5 percent to 26,375 dry metric tons from 21,022 dry metric tons, while its estimated value increased 22.7 percent to PHP344.09 million.
The industry also recorded strong growth in scandium oxalate production. Output from the Taganito HPAL Project in Surigao del Norte increased 257.5 percent to 4,159 dry kilograms from 1,163 dry kilograms, while production value climbed 261.6 percent to PHP71.03 million.
Iron ore was the weakest-performing metallic mineral during the quarter. Production from the Camachin Iron Ore Project in Bulacan declined 53.1 percent to 18,791 dry metric tons from 40,072 dry metric tons, while production value fell by the same rate to PHP62.01 million.
The first-quarter results showed that stronger commodity prices and higher nickel ore shipments helped lift the overall value of the country's metallic mineral production despite lower output from gold, silver and copper operations.
