This report presents the final monthly statistics on exports, imports and the resulting balance of trade in goods (BOT-G) for the year 2005.

Final export figures were based on export documents that were received after the cut-off dates and the inclusion of electronic data-files from Automated Export Documentation System (AEDS) - Mactan. The AEDS-Mactan started in July 2005. Table 1 shows a comparison of the preliminary and final series of exports for 2005 by month.

Final imports data adapted the methodology approved by the NSCB Executive Board in a NSCB Resolution No. 8 Series of 2005 dated May 18, 2005 entitled "Approving the Interim Methodology for the Revision of Electronic Import Statistics". It also considered actual import documents received by the NSO after the cut-off dates. Table 2 shows the preliminary and final series of imports for 2005.

As shown in Table 1, the final export figure was recorded at US$41,255 million from US$41,006 million. Table 2 shows that for the period January to December 2005, the final value of total imports was US$47,418 million, an increase of US$2,509 million from US$44,910 million. The resulting trade balance in goods amounted to a deficit of US$6,163 million, a decline from the preliminary series of US$3,903 million deficit (Table 3).