As of today, all export documents from all collection points were already received and processed by the NSO central office. Based on the documents collected, many of the exporters of electronic products registered declines in their export value. The 10.3 percent decline in the exports of electronic products was mainly attributed to the 13.4 percent decrease on the value of exports of semiconductors. The group had a 65.0 percent share of the total exports of electronic products and 44.0 percent of the total exports for the month of November 2003.

Only a few exporters of electronic products recorded increases on an annual basis. electronic products registered annual decreases during the 11-month period of 2003 except in January, March, September, and October. Semiconductors having the lion share of the group also recorded negative annual rates during these months except in January, February, March, April, September and October.

While semiconductors registered a dip in its annual export value, the other items under electronic products like office equipment, reflected an increase of 59.2 percent; automotive electronics, 22.2 percent; and consumer electronics, 1.7 percent.

On a monthly basis, exports of electronic products was down by 8.9 percent and semiconductors, by 15.6 percent. The biggest decrease of 52.2 percent was noted in medical, industrial instrumentation group. Monthly movements of export values of electronic products during the 1^st eleven months of the year showed negative rates except during the months of March, June, July, September, and October. Similarly, semiconductors recorded decreases during these months and during the months of July and October.

Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, the group with the second largest value of exports, likewise, registered negative annual growth rates since July 2003. Its annual growth rate for November 2003 was negative 24.0 percent.

Page last revised:  January 9, 2004