External Trade Performance : November 2012

Total external trade in goods for November 2012 reached $8.685 billion, representing a 3.5 percent increase from $8.390 billion recorded during the same month in 2011. The increase can be attributed to the 5.5 percent positive growth of exports to $3.550 billion from $3.366 billion in the same month a year ago. Also, total imports expanded by 2.2 percent to $5.135 billion from $5.024 billion in November 2011. Thus, the balance of trade in goods (BOT-G) for the Philippines in November 2012 registered a deficit of $1.586 billion from $1.658 billion deficit in the same period last year.

Merchandise Export Performance : November 2012

Export earnings in November 2012 expanded by 5.5 percent to $3.551 billion from $3.366 billion recorded in November 2011. The growth was brought about by the increase in value of shipments of commodities such as metal components, woodcrafts and furniture, electronic products, cathodes & sections of cathodes, of refined copper and ignition wiring set, and other wiring sets used in vehicles, aircrafts, and ships. However, on a monthly basis, it contracted by 19.4 percent from $4.408 billion posted in October 2012. Likewise, cumulative merchandise exports for the first eleven months of 2012 recorded a positive growth of 7.0 percent to $48.026 billion from $44.898 billion posted during the same period of 2011. Meanwhile, total volume of outward shipments showed a year-on-year increase of 1.8 percent and a month-on-month decrease of 42.1 percent compared to same month last year and last month’s outward shipments, respectively.

External Trade Performance : October 2012

Total external trade in goods for October 2012 reached $9.648 billion, representing a 5.1 percent increase from $9.180 billion recorded during the same month in 2011. The increase can be attributed to the 6.1 percent positive growth of exports to $4.408 billion from $4.156 billion in the same month a year ago. Also, total imports expanded by 4.3 percent to $5.240 billion from $5.024 billion in October 2011. Thus, the balance of trade in goods (BOT-G) for the Philippines in October 2012 registered a deficit of $832 million from $869 million deficit in the same period last year.

Merchandise Export Performance : October 2012

Export earnings in October 2012 expanded by 6.1 percent to $4.408 billion from $4.156 billion recorded in October 2011. The growth was brought about by the increase in value of shipments of commodities such as Tuna (includes fresh, frozen, prepared or preserved in airtight containers), Bananas (fresh), Cathodes & Sections of Cathodes, of Refined Copper, Petroleum Products (includes refined petroleum products, manufactures from crude petroleum oil imported on consignment basis), Metal Components (excluding brakes & servo-brakes), Woodcrafts and Furniture, Coconut Oil (includes crude and refined) and Electronic Products. However, on a monthly basis, it contracted by 7.9 percent from $4.784 billion posted in September 2012. Meanwhile, total volume of outward shipments in October 2012 showed an increase of 39.2 percent year-on-year and 23.5 percent expansion compared to last month’s outward shipments. Likewise, cumulative merchandise exports for the first ten months of 2012 recorded a positive growth of 7.1 percent to $44.475 billion from $41.532 billion posted during the same period of 2011.

External Trade Performance : September 2012

Total external trade in goods for September 2012 reached $10.051 billion, representing an 11.9 percent increase from $8.980 billion recorded during the same month in 2011. The increase can be attributed to the 22.8 percent positive growth of exports to $4.784 billion from $3.897 billion in the same month a year ago. Also, total imports expanded by 3.6 percent to $5.267 billion from $5.083 billion in September 2011. Thus, the balance of trade in goods (BOT-G) for the Philippines in September 2012 registered a deficit of $483 million from $1.186 billion deficit in the same period last year.

National Statistics Office

Foreign Trade