Total external trade in goods for January to June 2009 reached $37.586 billion, exhibiting a 31.9 percent decline from $55.188 billion recorded during the same period in 2008. This was attributed to the 31.1 percent decrease of total imports to $20.365 billion from $29.565 billion reported in the first six months of 2008. Similarly, total exports went down by 32.8 percent to $17.221 billion from $25.623 billion posted in January to June 2008. Thus, the balance of trade in goods (BOT-G) for the Philippines under review registered a $3.143 billion deficit from $3.943 billion deficit in the same 6-month period last year.

Total external trade in goods for January to August 2009 reached $52.012 billion, a 30.6 percent drop from $74.946 billion recorded during the same 8-month period in 2008. Total imports posted a 30.8 percent annual decrease from $40.492 billion to $28.007 billion. Total exports likewise plunged by 30.3 percent from $34.454 billion in January to August of 2008 to $24.005 billion. Thus, the balance of trade in goods (BOT-G) for the Philippines recorded a $4.002 billion deficit in 2009 from $6.037 billion deficit in the same 8-month period last year.

Total external trade in goods for January to October 2009 amounted to $66.796 billion, a 28.1 percent decline from $92.850 billion registered during the same month in 2008. Total imports posted a 29.0 percent annual decrease from $49.960 billion to $35.485 billion. Total exports likewise slipped by 27.0 percent from $42.890 billion in January to October of 2008 to $31.311 billion. Thus, the balance of trade in goods (BOT-G) for the Philippines posted a deficit of $4.175 billion during the 10-month period in 2009, a value less than the $7.070 billion deficit in the same 10-month period last year.