Total external trade in goods for February 2009 reached $5.565 billion, representing a 35.3 percent decline from $8.603 billion recorded during the same month in 2008. This was due to the 31.9 percent decrease of total imports to $3.059 billion from $4.491 billion in February 2008. The same was true for exports where a 39.0 percent decrease was observed to $2.506 billion from $4.112 billion in February 2008. Thus, the balance of trade in goods (BOT-G) for the Philippines in February 2009 registered a $552 million deficit from $379 million deficit in the same period last year.

Total external trade in goods for January to December 2010 reached $106.134 billion, a 30.2 percent increment from $81.527 billion registered during the same period in 2009. Total imports posted a 26.9 percent annual increase to $54.702 billion from $43.092 billion. Similarly, an increase of 33.8 percent for merchandise exports was noted to $51.432 billion in January to December of 2010 from $38.436 billion during the same period in 2009. Thus, the balance of trade in goods (BOT-G) for the Philippines registered a deficit of $3.270 billion in 2010, a value lower than the $4.656 billion deficit in 2009.