Banks’ foreign currency loans reached $16.31 billion in the second quarter, up by 5.6 percent from $15.44 billion in the previous quarter, primarily driven by increased borrowing from export-oriented and other industries’ activities. These loans are known as FCDU loans. They are handled through banks’ foreign currency deposit units (FCDUs).

Of the total outstanding loans, $11.65 billion or 71.5 percent were extended to Philippine-based borrowers. The rest went to non-residents. Major Philippine-based borrowers included:

companies from towing, tanker, trucking, forwarding, personal, and other industries ($3.07 billion or 26.3 percent);

merchandise and service exporters ($2.85 billion or 24.5 percent); and

power generation companies ($1.86 billion or 16.0 percent).

Most loans had maturities of more than one year. These medium- to long-term loans made up 73.3 percent of the total, down from 77.1 percent in the previous quarter.

Of the outstanding loans, $11.99 billion were disbursed in the second quarter. Meantime, banks collected $11.20 billion in loan payments in the same quarter.

Year-on-year, FCDU loans increased​ by 2.4 percent.

Meanwhile, deposits in foreign currencies as of end-June amounted to $60.11 billion, down by 0.9 percent from $60.67 billion as of the same period last year.​

FCDUs conduct foreign currency transactions for local banks or local branches of foreign banks authorized to do so by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. These loans support economic activities that require foreign exchange, such as importers, businesses, and individuals with foreign currency transactions. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas