A. Quantity

1. Quantity of domestic trade increased

The total quantity of domestic trade in 2024 was registered at 30.00 million tons. This represents an annual increase of 8.4 percent from the 27.66 million tons recorded quantity of domestic trade in 2023. In 2023, the total quantity of domestic trade registered an annual increment of 15.4 percent. 
 

The majority (99.9%) of the commodities were traded through water (coastwise), while the rest were traded through air in 2024. (Figure 1 and Table A) 

2. Food and live animals topped in terms of quantity of domestic trade

By commodity section, food and live animals led in terms of quantity of domestic trade in 2024 with 8.55 million tons or 28.5 percent share to the total domestic trade. This was followed by mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials with 5.02 million tons (16.7%), and commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere with 3.99 million tons (13.3%). (Figure 2 and Table 1) 

3. National Capital Region led in terms of quantity of traded commodities

Across regions, the National Capital Region (NCR) registered the highest quantity of traded commodities with 6.98 million tons or 23.3 percent share to the total domestic trade in 2024. This was followed by Central Luzon (Region III) with a quantity of 5.65 million tons (18.8%) and Western Visayas (Region VI) with 4.83 million tons (16.1%). (Figure 3 and Table 2)

B. Value

1.    Value of domestic trade increased

Domestic trade value refers to the outflow value of commodities transported from the region/province of origin to another region/province of destination.

The total value of domestic trade in 2024 amounted to PhP 1.31 trillion. This indicates an annual increase of 23.1 percent from the PhP 1.07 trillion value of domestic trade in 2023.

In terms of value, the majority (99.8%) of the commodities that flowed within the country were traded through water (coastwise), while the remaining were traded through air in 2024. (Figure 4 and Table 1) 

2. Food and live animals registered the highest value of traded commodities

Food and live animals topped in terms of value of traded commodities with PhP 466.65 billion or 35.6 percent share to the total domestic trade value in 2024. This was followed by machinery and transport equipment at PhP 308.23 billion (23.5%) and manufactured goods classified chiefly by material at PhP 175.50 billion (13.4%). (Figure 5 and Table 1)

3. NCR recorded the highest value of traded commodities

Among regions, NCR topped with PhP 451.41 billion value of traded commodities or 34.4 percent share to the total value of traded commodities in 2024. This was followed by Western Visayas (Region VI) with traded commodities amounting to   PhP 313.07 billion (23.9%) and Central Visayas (Region VII) with PhP 135.02 billion (10.3%) worth of traded commodities. (Figure 6 and Table 2)

4. Central Visayas led in terms of inflow value

Inflow refers to the value of commodities that enter a specified region/province from other regions/provinces.

Across regions, Central Visayas (Region VII) posted the highest inflow value of domestic trade at PhP 236.45 billion or 18.0 percent share to the total inflow of domestic trade in 2024. This was followed by NCR with an inflow value of PhP 226.29 billion (17.2%) and Western Visayas (Region VI) with PhP 178.92 billion (13.6%). On the other hand, Cordillera Administrative Region recorded the lowest inflow value amounting to PhP 235.09 thousand in 2024. (Figure 7 and Table 3)

5. NCR registered the highest favorable trade balance

Trade balance is the difference between the outflow value and inflow value. A positive value indicates a favorable trade balance, while a negative value indicates an unfavorable trade balance.

The top three regions with favorable (positive) domestic trade balances in 2024 were the following:

a.    NCR, PhP 225.11 billion;
b.    Western Visayas (Region VI), PhP 134.15 billion; and
c.    Central Luzon (Region III), PhP 51.69 billion. (Figure 8 and Table 3)

On the other hand, the top three regions with unfavorable (negative) domestic trade balances in 2024 were the following:

a.    Central Visayas (Region VII), PhP -101.43 billion;
b.    CALABARZON (Region IV-A), PhP -93.69 billion; and
c.    Caraga (Region XIII), PhP -83.27 billion. (Table 3)

DIVINA GRACIA L. DEL PRADO, PhD
Assistant Secretary
Deputy National Statistician
Sectoral Statistics Office