Articles of Apparel and Clothing Accessories (AACA) had the highest contribution of $30.8 million to the total increase in merchandise exports earnings of $172.3 million for the period January 2000 and January 2001. AACA had exports of $210.92 million in January 2001 compared to $180.15 million a year back. AACA not manufactured from materials on consignment basis accounted for 59.4 percent of the total receipts with sales amounting to $125.28 million or a 28.8 percent increase from $97.27 million last year. AACA manufactured from materials on consignment basis combined for 40.6 percent with women's wear worth $34.13 million accounting for 16.2 percent and men's wear, $25.05 million accounting for 11.9 percent. Children's and infant's wear followed with $17.77 million or 8.4 percent of the total.

Electronics Components (EC), while remaining as the top export for January 2001, had the second largest contribution to the total increase in export earnings. It posted a 1.7 percent increase in receipts with an aggregate value of $1.675 billion. About 51.1 percent of this came from exports of semi-conductor devices, particularly semi-conductor devices manufactured from materials on consignment basis comprising 48.4 percent of EC or $810.19 million and representing an 8.0 percent increase from $749.98 million a year ago. For micro-circuits, which had an 18.7 percent share to EC, reported sales amounted to $313.85 million. Total receipts from other monolithic digital integrated circuits reached $201.81 million. Total receipts from other electronics components consisting mainly of finished electrical and electronic machinery and parts, manufactured from materials on consignment basis decreased by 0.3 percent to $258.77 million from $259.57 million. Revenue valued at $214.28 million for Input/Output/Peripheral Units fell by 21.0 percent from $271.18 million a year ago.

Exports of Sugar to the United States helped boost foreign exchange earnings for January as its value reached $10.15 million from nil last year.

On the other hand, sales of Other Products Manufactured from Materials Imported on Consignment Basis, the sixth top earner, went up by 32.0 percent to $30.80 million from $23.33 million last year.

Exports of Bananas (Fresh) valued at $24.76 million went up by 20.6 percent from $20.54 million or an increase of $4.23 million.

Fig. 1. Leading Philippine Exports: January 2001

EC EXPORTS TO US DECLINE BY 0.2 PERCENT

Exports of Electronics Components to the United States amounted to $437.02 million or a 0.2 percent dip from $437.76 million last year. The US share of total exports of Electronics Components went down to 26.1 percent from 26.6 percent. On the other hand, exports to Japan grew by 43.7 percent to $251.39 million from $174.98 million last year as percentage share rose to 15.0 percent from 10.6 percent. Revenues from Singapore increased by 31.9 percent to $224.44 million from $170.18 million, while those from Netherlands rose by 3.3 percent to $163.26 million and from Thailand, by 241.2 percent to $134.06 million.

Fig. 2. Leading Markets of Electronics Components: January 2001

GARMENTS TO US VALUED AT $210.92 MILLION

Aggregate receipts from the United States amounting to $162.58 million accounted for 77.1 percent of the total value of Articles of Apparel and Clothing Accessories exports and this was 16.1 percent higher than $139.99 million in 2000. UK of Great Britain followed with a 4.0 percent share while at third was Japan with a 3.3 percent share.

Fig. 3. Leading Markets of Articles of Apparel and Clothing Accessories: January 2001

US TOP MARKET OF OTHER PRODUCTS MANUFACTURED FROM MATERIALS IMPORTED ON CONSIGNMENT BASIS

The USA cornered 36.0 percent of the total exports of Other Products Manufactured from Materials Imported on Consignment Basis, with purchases valued at $11.10 million but which was a 0.7 percent decrease from $11.19 million last year. Total receipts from Japan, second top market, went up by 94.0 percent to $6.45 million and its percentage share went up to 20.9 percent from 14.2 percent. Other markets were: Singapore ($3.21 million), Germany ($2.23 million), Belgium, ($2.14 million), and Switzerland, ($1.35 million).

Fig. 4. Leading Markets of Other Products Imported on Consignment Basis: January 2001

EXPORTS OF FRESH BANANA TO JAPAN UP BY 7.0 PERCENT

Japan cornered 57.4 percent of Fresh Banana exports. Valued at $14.21 million, sales to Japan grew by 7.0 percent from $13.29 million in January 2000. People’s Republic Of China ranked second with payments valued at $5.53 million or 22.3 percent of the total. Republic of Korea followed with a 6.6 percent share while Taiwan was fourth with a 6.0 percent share.

Fig. 5. Leading Markets of Bananas (Fresh): January 2001