Commodity flow or domestic trade refers to the flow of commodities through the water, air and rail transport systems in the country. Data on the inflow and outflow of commodities in the different regions of the country are used to construct interregional and inter-industry relation tables. These serve as bases in the formulation and implementation of various regional development programs like countryside development and port planning.
Quantity and value of domestic trade falls
The total quantity of domestic trade transactions in the first quarter of 2007 decreased by 19.5 percent, resulting to 4.74 million tons from 5.88 million tons reported during the same period of last year. The commodities were traded mostly through water comprising 99.9 percent in the first quarters of both years 2006 and 2007.
Likewise, the total value of commodities flowed within the country decreased by 17.31 percent from PhP97.57 billion in the first quarter of 2006 to PhP80.68 billion in the same period of 2007. Shipment through water was the major mode of transport with shares of 99.6 percent and 99.4 percent in the first quarters of years 2006 and 2007 respectively.
Food and live animals dominates total domestic trade value
Among the commodities that were transacted throughout the country in the first quarter of 2007, food and live animals contributed the largest value amounting to PhP26.38 billion (32.7%). Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials were next with PhP13.04 billion (16.2%). Machinery and transport equipment followed with PhP11.89 billion (14.7%). Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes shared the least value of PhP345.42 million (0.4%) (See Table 1).
Food and live animals likewise dominated the domestic trade in the first quarter of 2006, with a share of 32.7 percent (PhP31.95 billion) of the total value. Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials were second with a 19.5 percent share (PhP19.07 billion). Machinery and transport equipment followed with a share of 12.6 percent share (PhP12.32 billion). Contributing the least value of PhP1.25 billion was animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes with 1.3 percent share (See Table 1).
National Capital Region (NCR) contributes the largest value of domestic trade
Most of the traded commodities in the first quarter of 2007 came from NCR with value of domestic trade amounting to PhP18.95 billion (23.5%). Western Visayas came second with PhP13.32 billion (16.5%). This was followed by Central Luzon with PhP11.76 billion (14.6%). Northern Mindanao was next with PhP10.45 billion (13.0%). Eastern Visayas followed with PhP5.99 billion (7.4%). Cagayan Valley�s domestic trade contributed the least share among the regions with only PhP31 thousand.
Central Luzon had the highest domestic trade share at PhP19.50 billion (20.0%) during the first quarter of 2006. NCR was the second highest contributing region with PhP18.18 billion (18.6%). Western Visayas was next with hP12.64 billion (13.0%). Northern Mindanao was fourth with PhP12.35 billion (12.7%). Eastern Visayas followed with PhP6.70 billion (6.9%). Cagayan Valley remained the least contributing region with only PhP323 thousand domestic trade share.
Central Luzon posts the highest favorable trade balance
In the first quarter of 2007, Central Luzon posted the most favorable balance of trade at PhP11.53 billion. Other regions which surpassed the billion positive trade balance were Northern Mindanao (PhP5.04 billion), Western Visayas (PhP2.82 billion), and Eastern Visayas (PhP1.79 billion), MIMAROPA (PhP1.50), and Davao Region (PhP1.10 billion). On the other hand, Central Visayas suffered an unfavorable trade balance of negative PhP11.42 billion. Other regions with more than a billion negative trade balances were NCR (-PhP5.39 billion), CALABARZON (-PhP3.68 billion), Zamboanga Peninsula (-PhP1.56 billion), and Caraga (-PhP1.10 billion).
For the same period in 2006, Central Luzon also realized the most favorable trade balance at PhP16.75 billion. Four other regions recorded more than a billion positive trade balances namely: Western Visayas (PhP4.74 billion), Northern Mindanao (PhP4.48 billion), Eastern Visayas (PhP2.73 billion), and SOCCSKSARGEN (PhP2.01 billion), On the other hand, NCR suffered the most unfavorable balance of trade at negative PhP10.56 billion.
Notes:
- DOMSTAT reports from the following regions/provinces were not yet received as of October 5, 2007, and were not included in this special release:
- Cebu - Coastwise (February & March 2007)
- Zamboanga City - Air (February & March2007)
- Zamboanga del Sur - Coastwise (January to March 2007)
- Cotabato City - Coastwise (January to March 2007)
- Sulu - Coastwise (January to March 2007)
- There still no rail transaction in the first quarter of 2007 due to the typhoons Milenyo and Reming that hit the country last September and November 2006, respectively, which resulted to the stoppage of the operation of the Philippine National Railways (PNR).
Source: National Statistics Office
Manila, Philippines
