More than 800,000 motorcycle units were purchased in the Philippines from January to May as consumers shifted toward more cost-efficient transportation options amid recent hikes in fuel prices.

The latest Federation of Asian Motorcycle Industries (FAMI) data showed that the country’s motorcycle sales reached 811,397 units in the first five months, 8.8 percent higher than the 746,016 units sold in the same period last year.

FAMI sources its Philippine data from industry group Motorcycle Development Program Participants Association Inc. (MDPPA), whose members include leading Japanese brands such as Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha.

On a monthly basis, motorcycle sales in May expanded by 14 percent to 167,621 units from 146,908 units in April, which was the lowest monthly tally so far this year.

The improvement in May sales coincided with the easing of inflation, which slowed to 6.8 percent from 7.2 percent in April.

The lower inflation rate was driven largely by the softening of transport inflation to 16.2 percent in May from 21.4 percent in April following slower price increases for diesel and gasoline, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Despite some easing in prices, however, fuel prices remain elevated as tensions in the Middle East continue to show no signs of easing more than three months into the conflict.

As a result, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) chief economist Michael Ricafort said demand for motorcycles will likely maintain its upward trajectory in the coming months, particularly given their fuel-efficiency advantage over four-wheeled vehicles.

“The continued growth in motorcycle sales could still reflect the shift toward [a] cheaper mode of transportation that consumes less fuel and lower acquisition and maintenance costs to better adjust to the net increase in fuel prices and overall inflation,” Ricafort said in a Viber message.

He added that the growth in motorcycle sales is “consistent with the recent decline in bigger vehicle sales.”

The latest Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI) and Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) joint report showed that vehicle sales from January to April slipped by nearly 12 percent to 132,867 units from the 150,654 units sold in the same period in 2025.

FAMI data also showed that the local motorcycle industry produced 631,630 motorcycles in the five months through May, up six percent from 596,234 units a year ago.

At present, the Philippines recorded the second-largest sales volume among FAMI members, surpassing Vietnam, which recorded 729,121 motorcycle sales in the first quarter alone.

Indonesia continues to be the leading motorcycle market within FAMI, with sales reaching 2.14 million units from January to April.