Philippine manufacturing still too reliant on imported tooling

Die and mold sector flags limited local capacity despite rising demand from factories.

The country’s die and mold industry is urging the government to further strengthen the manufacturing sector, saying its own growth depends heavily on the expansion of local production industries.

The industry pointed to continued reliance on imported tooling and limited local capacity, noting that most equipment used in manufacturing still comes from abroad, according to Philippine Die and Mold Association Inc. officers Jimmy Chan and Hector Villanueva Jr., speaking at the launch of Philippine Manufacturing Week 2026.

They said die and mold casting is crucial to metal stamping, plastic injection, and semiconductor production. Die and mold makers create the precision tools factories use to mass-produce everything from appliance parts and gadgets to automotive components.

Chan said about 80% of tooling used in these industries is imported, while only around 10% of semiconductor tooling is locally available.

The reliance on foreign tools affects production costs and timelines for manufacturers that depend on specialized equipment.

Villanueva said the sector already has policy support but needs stronger manufacturing activity to grow further.

“If the manufacturing grows, we’ll be with them because we’re the support group,” he said.

Philippine Manufacturing Week 2026 runs July 23 to 25, bringing together APVE Expo and PDMEX under one platform organized by Informa Markets.

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