Total quantity and value of domestic trade increases in the first quarter of 2016

The total quantity of domestic trade transactions that flowed through air and water within the country increased by 7.0 percent during the first quarter of 2016 to 5.36 million tons from 5.01 million tons in the same quarter in 2015.

Similarly, total value of commodities increased by 6.7 percent to PHP175.451 billion in the first quarter of 2016 from PHP164.360 billion in the first quarter of 2015.

Domestic trade transactions through water accounted for about 99.8 percent of the total quantity of traded commodities. (Table 1)

Machinery and transport equipment leads total domestic trade value

In the first quarter of 2016, machinery and transport equipment amounting to PHP62.025 billion accounted for the biggest share of 35.4 percent in total domestic trade value. This was followed by food and live animals with PHP43.423 billion (24.7%) and mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials with PHP20.058 billion (11.4%).

Likewise, machinery and transport equipment amounting to PHP49.043 billion exhibited the highest share of 29.8 percent in the first quarter of 2015. Food and live animals followed with PHP45.633 billion (27.8%).

Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes  had the least domestic trade value amounting to PHP692.91 million (0.4%) in 2016 and PHP1.889 billion (1.1%) in 2015. (Table 2)

Value of domestic trade for Eastern Visayas accounts for 20.3 percent

In the first quarter of 2016, Eastern Visayas reported the highest share of domestic trade at PHP35.629 billion (20.3%).  Western Visayas ranked second with PHP30.810 billion (17.6%), followed by National Capital Region (NCR) with PHP25.339 billion (14.4%), Central Visayas with PHP19.021 billion (10.8%), Northern Mindanao with PHP16.016 billion (9.1%), and Central Luzon with PHP13.365 billion (7.6%).  Among regions, CALABARZON contributed the least share in value of domestic trade registering PHP181.77 million or 0.1 percent of total (Table 3).

Eastern Visayas registers the highest favorable domestic trade balance

In the first quarter of 2016, Eastern Visayas posted the highest favorable domestic trade balance at PHP24.840 billion.  Other regions with favorable trade balances amounting to a billion pesos or more were:

• Central Luzon, PHP13.027 billion;
• Davao Region, PHP8.774 billion;
• SOCCSKSARGEN, PHP3.465 billion
• Western Visayas, PHP3.264 billion; and
• Northern Mindanao, PHP1.941 billion

 On the other hand, Caraga recorded the highest unfavorable trade balance at PHP30.912 billion. Other regions with unfavorable trade balances amounting to a billion pesos or more were:

• Central Visayas, PHP6.591 billion
• NCR, PHP5.897 billion;
• CALABARZON, PHP4.958 billion
• Zamboanga Peninsula, PHP3.090 billion
• Ilocos Region, PHP2.181 billion; and
• MIMAROPA, PHP1,021 billion

Technical Notes

Commodity flow or domestic trade that is captured in this report refers to the flow of commodities through water and air only in the country.

The source documents for domestic trade statistics are as follows:

1. Coasting Manifest (BC Form No. 78) - This contains the vessel particulars and information about the commodities loaded in it. The following are the information available in the manifest:

• Port of Origin
• Port of Destination
• Year
• Month
• Description of Commodity
• Area of Occupancy
• Type of Handling
• Weight
• Value
• Freight Charges

2. Coastwise Passenger Manifest (BC Form No. 460) - This contains a list of passengers carried by the vessel.  The following are the variables being considered in the manifest:

• Port of Origin
• Port of Destination
• Year
• Month
• Name of Passenger

These documents are being collected by PSA field personnel from the various Philippine Port Authority (PPA) designated collection points in the provinces once a month to generate coastwise statistics.

         c.    Air Waybill (PAL Form No. F-O777 A) – This contains the following information:

• Actual Gross Weight
• Declared Value
• Station of Origin
• Station of Destination
• Description of Commodity
• Grand Total Charges

The Philippine Airlines (PAL) furnishes the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) a copy of every air waybill issued all over the country.  This is the data source for air trade statistics. PSA field personnel collect the air waybills and sales reports from the authorized PAL sales outlets nationwide.

Trade Balance is the computed difference between the outflow and inflow of commodities in the entire country. Positive value indicates favorable trade balance while negative value indicates unfavorable trade balance.

Inflow refers to the total value of commodities coming in the specified region or province.  Outflow refers to the total value of commodities, which flowed out of the specified region or province.

DOMSTAT reports from the following provinces/cities were not yet received as of June 07, 2016, thus, were not included in this special release:

Starting first quarter of 2005, Philippine National Railways (PNR) has no rail transaction.